In the corporate world of the House Of Blues and all of their ultra strict rules, I cannot recall a more perfect night at any show ever. Now it does help when the band you're coming to see are made up of people you've had an ongoing relationship with for 12 years and that relationship has grown into a tight friendship. And a bond rarely experience in the music business.
Paul and I arrived at the House Of Blues at 5 after 5 and we walked backstage to find Vas and Loopy from Hanzel Und Gretyl, they were a little late due to some weather and a breakdown in Colorado, and we found Suzan from Bozo Porno Circus and snuck her in. At 6 we went to the bands dressing room and chatted with the entire group and it was hilarious. Loopy is a ficking riot anyway, and it's always great to see Anna who used to play bass in Drain STH, who is as hot to look at as she is on bass. Paul did most of the interview and I sat on Suzan's lap and injected a few queries of my own. We wrapped up and went down to the restaurant where we met up with my nigga Afra and his krue, Grego, Brad, SuzN, and Jennifer. Then I grabbed my all access passes and we roamed the House of Blues as one would his own sonic temple. Somehow I had managed to get 8 people on the list, so we all convened in the Foundation Room, and wandered back and fourth from the backstage.
We were having a great time but is was about to get better. It's hard to believe that as long as I've known Ministry and Skinny Puppy, and that is a long freaking time, that until this week I had NEVER taken a girl backstage. Friday I took Curiosity and last night I took Jenn. Angie immediately took to her and took me aside and whispered, "we have to leave at 2AM but Al and I have a room in the hotel and we would like you and Jenn to come on up after the show. Don't tell anyone else.", and she gave me the room #. She commented on how hot she though Jenn was and I have to agree, she is quite easy on the eyes, but even more she is a total fucking blast to hang out with. This chick is talented and fun. Somehow she has tolerated me a couple times.
Grego was talking to Mikey and then Angie realized, he was who he was and my best friend so she said I could bring Grego as well.
Al wrapped up an interview and we caught up on the last month. Turns out he's going to produce the new Cheap Trick record and it all happened because of Greg and I. That's a fucking team. We made a couple good jokes and he commented how he told the guys he wasn't about to deal with any sappy ballads. He proceeded to throw his arm around me and said, "Zander, how long have you known me. You know I'm A.D.D. and have an attention span of about 30 seconds." I replied that well you had about 3minutes 40 seconds of Lay Lady Lay. He paused, and then laughed it off.
Angie got me and Jenn some wine and took me aside and asked, "What are you going to do when we move back?" I was stunned and said "WHAT?" She repeated that her and Al were moving back to Chicago and that made my night. I really couldn't fucking believe it. I'm so much happier today knowing this.
Anyway, Greg and I had the fiends box, and the other six with us had another box. I just had to get Jenn into our box and I did. The band geared up and we rocked out. The set was trademark MINISTRY, a sonic assault of anger and angst. And for me it was sonic therapy. Al and Mikey kept looking up and Greg and I and making funny gestures. Ty Coon and Viva Nova were also in the box and Ty was flirting with me as usual. She's pretty funny. We kept the waitress busy and our throats moist with libations. Jenn was sitting on the ledge behind me whipping me with her 3 ft + of braids, so I smelled like vanilla again. The band played till 1 AM and after the encore we joined them backstage and I brought a few of the boys into the F. ROOM and Jenn, Grego and I snuck off to Al and Angie's room and hung out till bout 3 AM. Everyone wanted to know what we were up to but we kept hush and had a bit of quiet quality time.
After that the three of us had to shoot into NEO where the ANTHRAX release party I sponsored was going on. We didn't have too much time there since it was getting close to 4 AM and after that I was in bed till 336 this afternoon.
It's going to be nice and quiet for the next few weeks. I really have no other shows on the horizon which is a break I need. It's been a nutty couple of months. But seeing Ministry and Skinny Puppy 3 times in the latter half of this year was a really nice thing.
I'm exhausted.
Tomorrow I have a VIP soiree at Rizzo's and hopefully a few of my best will show up. Then it's Turkey with the Hoeksemas.
All in all it was one of the best nights I've had in months and I had great company. My graditude to all involved
Posted by Alex Zander at November 23, 2004 05:29 PM