Heading down to the Ball Arena in Denver, I was thinking about the lineup for the show. Two bands I was familiar with and two bands I recently researched and watched YouTube videos of each one. I had a real positive feeling about this show and I was not disappointed at all.
The Funeral Portrait opened the show and right away set the tone for the evening starting with the song, “Suffocate City”. Their energy poured out onto the crowd and the crowd soaked it up. Lead singer Lee Jennings moved about as his voice filled the venue, backed by strong musicianship from his fellow bandmates. Though their set was a short 30 minutes, they made a lasting impression on the crowd and me as well.
The Funeral Portrait members:
Lee Jennings: Vocalist and frontman
Robert Weston: Bassist
Homer Umbanhower: Drummer
Cody Weissinger: Guitarist
Caleb Freihaut: Guitarist and keyboard player
Setlist:
Suffocate City
Generation Psycho
You're So Ugly When You Cry
Blood Mother
Voodoo Doll
Dark Thoughts
Holy Water
Originally from Russia but now based in Florida, Slaughter to Prevail made their way onto the stage wearing masks except lead singer Aleksandr "Alex Terrible" Shikolai who was shirtless with a full upper body tattoo. The hardcore metalers started their set with “Bonebreaker” with the deep hardcore growls of Aleksandr and the powerful musicians backing him, their sound exploded throughout the Ball Arena and the crowd was on the move, head banging with the horns up. The onslaught continued throughout their set which again was short but very very impressive! The crowd with a roar thanked them for a killer set.
Slaughter to Prevail members:
Aleksandr "Alex Terrible" Shikolai (Александр Шиколай) — lead vocals (2014–present)
Mikhail "Mike" Petrov (Михаил Петров) — bass guitar (2016–present)
Evgeny Novikov (Евгений Новиков) — drums (2018–present)
Jack Simmons — lead guitar (2014–present, studio only from 2017-2020)
Dmitry "Dima" Mamedov (Дмитрий Мамедов) — rhythm guitar (2015, 2021–present)
Setlist:
Bonebreaker
Baba Yaga
Demolisher
Viking
Bratva
Kid of Darkness
Du hast @Cover
With the stage set, it was time for the long awaited return of Marilyn Manson. As the lights came down and the curtain dropped, the screaming from his fans was deafening as Marilyn started his set with, “We Know Where You F***ing Live”. Through the fog and lights dancing across the stage, Marilyn’s stage presence was as strong as ever and the crowd was loving every minute of every song. Moving through a set of older classics like, “Disposable Teens”, “This Is the New S**t”, a personal favorite, along with his newest song, “As Sick as the Secrets Within”.
Musicians returning with Marilyn were Gil Sharone on drums and Tyler Bates guitar and backing vocals. New additions were, Piggy D., bass and backing vocals and Reba Meyers, guitars and backing vocals. All adding a great stage presence to the show. But it was Reba Meyers on guitar that proved to be a real shredder along with her great stage presence. (see photo gallery)
Marilyn finished his amazing set with “The Beautiful People” and his audience screamed with delight. I have seen Marilyn Manson many times over the years and it was my second time covering his show. I witnessed a man that had not toured in five years, step onto the stage and put on a performance as powerful as I have ever seen him perform. This was a real treat for me, welcome back Marilyn Manson!
Marilyn Manson members:
Marilyn Manson – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, drums, percussion, tambourine, saxophone, pan flute (1989–present)
Gil Sharone – drums (2014–2019, 2024–present)
Tyler Bates – guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2014–2015, 2015–2018, 2024–present)
Piggy D. – bass, backing vocals (2024–present)
Reba Meyers – guitars, backing vocals (2024–present)
Setlist:
We Know Where You Fucking Live
Disposable Teens
Angel With the Scabbed Wings
This Is the New Shit
Say10
Deep Six
Tourniquet
mOBSCENE
The Dope Show
As Sick as the Secrets Within
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Cover
The Love Song
The Beautiful People
It was time for Five Finger Death Punch, unfortunately for this tour, instead of photographing the first three songs, we were to wait until songs 4, 5, and 6. My understanding was that it was opening like they had not done before. But our turn came and as I headed out to the stage I could see an amazing light show that was happening on stage through the rolling fog. And it was just in time for one of my favorite songs, “Wash it All Away” and as I have witnessed many times, the stage presence of the band is always a sight to photograph. Moving back and forth across the stage, each member would interact with their fans as they always do to the delight of everyone including the photographers. Ivan is always talking with the crowd and at one point he brought a little girl and her mom up on stage and stood with them front and center as the crowd applauded. They then stood off to the side for the next song.
FFDP continued through their set with the cover of the song, “The House of the Rising Sun” which the crowd loved. As the members moved about the stage adding a bit of silliness between themselves and toward their fans. FFDP have been around for a long time and the members of the band look so relaxed and at home on the stage as they pour out their awesome music. The band finished their set with a three song encore topped by the song, “The Bleeding”.
There are still many shows left on this tour and I highly highly recommend getting out and witnessing this tour. You will not be disappointed, it’s amazing!
Five Finger Death Punch members:
Zoltan Bathory – rhythm guitar (2005–present); lead guitar, bass (2005)
Ivan Moody – lead vocals, keyboards (2006–present)
Chris Kael – bass, backing vocals (2011–present)
Charlie Engen – drums (2018–present)
Andy James – lead guitar (2020–present)
Setlist:
Welcome to the Circus
Lift Me Up
Trouble
Wash It All Away
Jekyll and Hyde
The House of the Rising Sun @Cover
Sham Pain
Burn MF
Wrong Side of Heaven
IOU
Encore:
Under and Over It
Never Enough
The Bleeding
