Al Jourgensen of Ministry - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Ministry
Hometown: Chicago, Il.
http://www.ministrymusic.org
Ministry Concert Photos
Tuesday April 15th, 2008
La Zona Rosa (Austin, Texas)
Also:
Meshuggah
I had a sense of dread when I showed up at La Zona Rosa for this gig. Don't know what or why. Maybe it was because they'd turned me down to shoot their last tour, maybe it was the predictions of other photographers that had shot them before, or maybe it was the evil smile of the red-headed roadie vixen as she looked at the ominous chain link fencing behind the opening band, and smirked at us photographers.
It could have also been the fact that their was an electricity in the air caused by something other than the adrenaline, or meth, running through their audience. Securities short hairs were up because the opening band was a no show and the venue was afraid that the late start might cause a riot. Actually the crowd was pretty oblivious to the no show, and I am sure the bartenders did their best to keep the crowd occupied. I don't think anyone even noticed.
Meshuggah at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Meshuggah, a Swedish experimental metal 5 piece, started at their appointed time and had they not shown there probably would have been a riot as they had a substantial audience of their own in tow. Jay West from Insite was in the pit with me, but the lighting could at best have been described as ambient, when it was on. For the most part the band played on a darkened or almost blacked out stage. I looked at Jay and laughed. I realized we were completely fucked and it would just go downhill from here.
I took what photos I could and after 3 songs quickly bailed on the pit and was nearly consumed by the audience. Loud, buzzy, dark, Meshuggah played like they had chainsaws in their hands, real grind-em-up, and spit-em-out stuff. I bet the security guys were having fun in the pit with all the surfers. Jay and I just sat back and watched the feet flying from the sidelines.
When their set ended, my ears were ringing as we made our way back into the pit.
Standing there with Jay we watched as they crew disassembled Meshuggah's set, and then with that evil smile and a laugh that sent chills down my spin, red headed roadie vixen was back. Unbelievably she and the crew began setting up a chain link fence barrier between the band and the pit. Now I have been to thousands of concerts and the only time I have ever seen this was in the old Blues Brothers movie. Jay asked the evil redhead if the band was going to play "Rawhide" and she just giggled like a madwoman.
I spent most of my time thinking about how I was going to shoot a band behind a fence. It turns out I should have been thinking more about WHY the band puts up a fence.
Seconds after Ministry took the stage hundreds of cups of beer were winging their way towards the stage, pelting the band, the roadies, the security, the photographers, and everyone in the first 20 feet of the stage. What a mess.
And Ministry wasn't helping much either. The lighting was great if you want to create a spooky ambiance for the stage set but horrible if you want to take pictures. I spent all my time trying to find the best list spot onstage while dodging beer cups and hordes of crowd surfers coming over the barrier. Every once in a while
Al Jourgensen would stick his head above the barrier but it seemed that it was never when I was prepared, or the had the right lights. I thought he was taller than that. After two songs in the war zone I bailed from the pit early, hoping that a few shots from the crowd would work out better.
Unfortunately they didn't. Luckily I was out of the pit though, and soon enough Jay was out too. Once again finding ourselves on the sidelines watching the bodies flying through the air. I watched the rest of the show, hoping in vain for more classic oldies, but more than satisfied hearing "New World Order". The band sounded great, and I even enjoyed some of their newer stuff live. This is supposed to be Ministry's last tour. I hope not, but if you go, you have been warned.
Ministry at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer
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