Ministry and Gary Numan Are The Tag Team Champs of 2023!

Ministry is headlining a show that many say is a must-see! The main opening act is a legend unto himself, Gary Numan. While not achieving the success in the US as he has, and maintained, in the UK, he still has a loyal following. Opening the show was the Canadian industrial band, Front Line Assembly.

Front Line Assembly truly set the stage for what was to come that evening in Philadelphia at the Franklin Music Hall. The lighting was dark and moody and the music was heavy. The band was formed in 1986 by Bill Leeb after he left Skinny Puppy. Many people consider FLA as being at the head of the pack in the electro-industrial dance realm. They had the crowd writhing to their catchy rhythms throughout their set. Leeb and guitarist Tim Skold stalked the stage creating an atmosphere of apocalyptic doom. They were a tremendous asset to this tour and are certainly a band I would see again and again!

It seemed like Ministry and Numan were an odd pairing to many. That’s because most of the folks in the US know Gary Numan for one thing and one thing only, his huge 1979 hit song, Cars. Full of synthetic string-like sounds played over a rolling bass riff, it has been used in the States in numerous automobile commercials over the years. He is one of the pioneers of the synthesizer-based music of the late ’70s / early ’80s. Being a Numanoid, as his fans are known, I knew what to expect from his set. Numan’s music has evolved into a much heavier and darker style. His music has a feel of an industrial/gothic combination with heavy bass and drum lines and soaring keyboards not to mention some blistering guitar work.

Numan and his band took the stage to a raucous welcome by his followers and polite cheering from those who didn’t quite know what to expect. After a few songs, the entire crowd got behind them and was cheering wildly. His energy level and stage presence belie his age. Guitarist Steve Harris and bassist Tim Slade flank the veteran-like characters from a Harry Potter book. Tall and balding and wearing billowy black outfits, they move about the stage like ghostly beings. David Brooks stood stoically behind his keyboard array. Newcomer to the band, music veteran Jimmy Lucido, kept time flawlessly behind the drum kit. The band was really firing on all cylinders and they won over many new fans. People in the parking lot after the show were commenting on how they came for Ministry but are now sold on Gary Numan too!

After a break that allowed those in attendance the chance to catch their breath, Ministry took the stage. Ministry is an American industrial metal band that formed in the 1980s. Ministry’s music is often characterized by its use of sampling and electronic effects, which are seamlessly integrated with the live instruments, creating a unique and intense sound. A Ministry concert is an intense and high-energy experience that combines heavy guitars, pounding drums, and distorted vocals with provocative visuals and political messages.

As the music began, the audience was hit with a wall of sound, created by the driving beats of the drums, the pulsating basslines, and the distorted guitar riffs. For those who haven’t seen Ministry in concert, intense is a mild adjective. The energy level that night in Philadelphia was as high as any concert. The stage was set up with an array of lights, and a screen showing disturbing and provocative images. These images matched the themes of Ministry’s music which is thinking for yourself and the world is a cruel place. With the center of the stage set up with a microphone behind a brightly illuminated cross, frontman Al Jorgensen preached his gospel with the intensity of a West Virginian snake-handling preacher.

Jourgensen is a charismatic and often controversial figure, known for his outspoken political views and his confrontational stage presence. He interacted with the audience, encouraging them to form a circle pit. The setlist for a Ministry concert typically includes a mix of classic hits like “N.W.O.,” and “Just One Fix,” as well as newer tracks from their more recent albums, and this show was no exception. The songs were extended, with long instrumental breaks and improvised sections, allowing the band to showcase their musicianship.

Overall, the entire concert was an intense and unforgettable experience that combined heavy music and provocative visuals with political messages thrown in for good measure. It was not for the faint of heart but for fans of industrial music and fans of intense live performances.