Rob Zombie with Marilyn Manson, The HU and Orgy at RBC Amphitheatre

Summer in Toronto ends with the Canadian National Exhibition, a two-week festival filled with vendors, interesting food selections, and the Bright Lights of the midway rides and giant stuffed-animal carrying game winners. The one thing it’s missing is a Travelling Roadshow. In this particular case, a Freakshow…

Lucky for us, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson have rolled in to the RBC Amphitheatre with “ The Freaks on Parade” tour. With support from The HU and Orgy, tonight is going to be a night of rock ‘ n ‘ roll we’ll all remember for years to come.

A Black curtain separates the crowd from an eerie figure, silhouetted by a giant, glowing inverted cross. With a ,hand raised, the curtain dropped and a moment of nostalgia and joy hit me. A throwback, Resurrected version of Marilyn Manson appears. The one 20+ year fans like myself have waited for and hoped to see again and the folklore the new fans get to experience. Starting with “Exit Wounds “ a single off his new album “ OAUG pt. 2 “ He rips through a 12-song, hour-long set, playing a mix of tracks from his catalogue of albums, as far back as Mechanical Animals. With his return to form, so has the return of the Elevating Skirt and Fur Vest from years past. During “ I Don’t Like the Drugs (but the drugs like me) intro, he stopped the song to confess to the crowd that, in the past, he “did, indeed like the drugs”. This moment connected to his older fanbase because of an overdose that cancelled a Toronto date on an earlier version of this tour. Vocally, this is the best I’ve heard him sound since seeing him in 2005. Honestly, this was an experience I wasn’t sure I’d ever see again. It elevated beyond my expectations. As a big Manson fan, this is an evening I’ll never forget. From the continued cheers after the incredible set we’ve just experienced, to the hustling around for drinks, snacks, merch and washroom breaks… The sold-out Amphitheatre buzz is
deafening! The anticipation is growing by the minute.

As the stage goes dark, you can faintly see glowing, piercing eyes and horns through the curtain. The freakshow is about to begin! The curtain drops and Rob Zombie is on a spaceship-looking riser with his name massively engraved in it. Starting his explosive 14-song set with “F.T.W. 84 “ off his new album. “ The Great Satan “ the visual experience is overwhelming in the most incredible way! From on-stage devils, fire and monsters roaming down to his glowing Baphomet mic, A blink og thr eye may cause you to miss an unforgettable moment! During “House of 1000 Corpses“ his wife and actress from the movie of the same name, Sheri Moon Zombie joins him during the song’s intro—a cult movie legend on stage with a cult music legend! The harmony is perfection. While wearing a hockey jersey, Zombie conducts the 16, 000 fans through a sing along of “ Oh Canada” . Finishing off the set is a duet of Manson and Zombie covering the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter “ the most perfect way to end a magical night.

Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.