02 November 2002,
Lakeview Links, Chicago, IL, US

Posted by disruptive_entity on November 03, 2002 02:36 PM

I'll start with the opening act, Domestic Godzilla. Let's face it, I'm not really into opening acts so I didn't give them much of a chance. All I can really say is that their singer was this big growling fat guy who looked like he was about to have a coronary at any moment and drop dead right in front of us.

Prong was great. They must have played 20 songs and Tommy was a real chatterbox. These really weird tobacco chewing drunks were standing behind us and kept climbing onstage to take pictures w/ Tommy while the band was playing. Third from the sun was played for Fuzz. Yancy and Flips had songs dedicated to them also. Too bad flips spent most of his time being sick on the bus. Kids have that effect you sometimes. They played so loud that my ears are still ringing as I write this. That's quite an accomplishment as no other band has done that to me in at least 5 years and last time was the Ramones. They sounded way better than they did back in may, and I thought they were excellent then. These guys just keep getting better and better. Can't wait for the next time. The wife had a great time, too.

I saw the Prong show as well.

It was so much better that that farce of a show with Danzig and Chimera.

The set was fab and Taommy as great as usual.

I met Tommy after the show and asked him about that show at HOB. He replied they didn't let them play any longer. I thought Glenn and Tommy were friends.

Oh btw, Chimera not a good live band. Danzig was awesome!

Hope Prong comes back after they comeback from Europe. =)

Later everyone.

Yea, I agree about them putting on a better show than in the spring, a lot better. Better song selection, Tommy interacted with the crowd more, etc. Wish I could have been at the Chicago show too.

SS

I had a great time in Detroit. Third from the Sun was a treat. I was not expecting it at all. Got a couple of cool photos which I'll try to post later in the week.

Had a top bunk on the bus and felt every bump on the road to Chicago. Woke up Saturday morning feeling green. Figured it was due to being overly tired and not having my "bus legs" yet. Wasn't hung over since I kept my Friday night liquid intake limited to Diet Mountain Dew.

Felt progressively worse all day. Yancy showed up and I went back to sleep and Tommy entertained him. Finally got up and Yancy bought me dinner. Got to meet Disruptive and his better half, but it was too short. "Hello, I'm Flips and I am going back to bed".

The show started and I made it through 2 songs and I went back to the bus and passed out. Got up as the crowd was leaving the bar, puked outside the bus (thanks for dinner Yancy) and felt 100% better.

Fuzz will have a far better review of the show that I obviously can give which I am sure that he will post soon.

Disruptive and Yancy it was great seeing you guys and I am sorry that I was under the weather.

SORRY DOES NOT BUTTER THE BUSCUIT

Hey Flips, glad to hear you enjoyed the few bites of Thai that you got to taste going in both directions! Old age and the rock'n'roll lifestyle don't mix, eh? Just kidding... I'm getting up there too. I'm used to being younger than the bands I idolize, so it was a shock when I found out I'm older than Monte.

Anyway, the Chicago show was more amazing than I can describe on a message board. The whole damn *day* was. Only thing I would have changed was ol' man Flips being under the weather. I got to see soundcheck, hang out with the band and the hardcore fans all afternoon, see another kick-ass Prong show, and then hang out with everyone again after the show.

I was too hyped to try and remember a setlist, but here are the tracks I was surprised to hear:


Freezer Burn
Third from the Sun
Lost and Found

Third from the Sun and One Outnumbered were played on Tommy & Monte's new baritone guitars, and sounded appropriately sludgy and growling. Nice touch for the band to bring along two new axes to thicken up the more dirge-like material.

More and more old stuff coming back is a great trend. I'm actually more of a fan of the newer albums, but I'm an ever bigger fan of variety. I lobbied Monte to bring out Irrelevant Thoughts... here's hoping!

Tommy was continually thankful to the crowd between songs. Good shows always have that mutual admiration thing. There was little or no booty shakin' going on, but lots of screaming, applause, and shouting along to the lyrics. Another Worldly Device (my *favorite* Prong track) being dedicated to me will probably go unmatched as the single coolest thing to ever happen to me... thanks, Tommy!

It was very cool to see Flips again, and to finally meet Fuzz, Duda, and Disruptive. Definitely a congregation of some of the most faithful.

As far as a formal show review, I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said about other recent shows. If you've been, you know how great the guys sound... if you haven't been... fucking go already!!!

Yancy

The windy city what can I say? The Lakeview Links club has a stage that sits about two feet off the floor. There was a small barricade up, but as you’ve already heard, people did not have a problem going over it and getting on stage. This was an intimate show the front row of people were about 5 feet away from the band. I think they played over 90 minutes.

Project 44 opened up the night very tight band with roots from Ministry (I’m told that Ministry’s original guitarist is in Project 44) they did cover Burning Inside. Second band was Domestic Godzilla, who I also enjoyed. Lead singer has a great voice with lots of range. Back to Prong:

The baritone Schecters helped propel Third From the Sun to a new dirgy low. The baritones had a heavy, cold feel to them – if you were at the show, you know what I’m talking about. Looked like Brian was playing a hollowbody LTD while Tommy and Monte played the Schecter baritones. I don’t know how Dan gets such a heavy sound out of the minimalist kit he is currently using. I think Third From the Sun is a Helios Creed song, but to see and hear Prong do it last Saturday night, what else can I say? It is one of those rare tunes that gives you fuckin chills up and down your spine

The merch counter had the new live disc, so I finally have it. DAMN!! Initiation is so heavy the download on the website is quite weak compared to its live incarnation. I like the photo in the digipac of Monte when he shaved some of his hair off to have a hairline like George Costanza. Told Monte after the show how much I enjoyed hearing the old shit and he was asking what they should play next. Personally, I would like to hear Tommy’s vocal interpretation of In My Veins

Great to finally meet Yancy and Disruptive. Someone got a photo of the three of us that needs to be posted. All the Chicago crowd was awesome - much fellowship going on in the crowd. And running into Duda - hey man, send Jonothan an email.

It’s a great time for Prong and a great time to be a Prong fan. It just keeps getting better. More touring, another disk in the spring, the triumph return of THE NEW YORK TINES, Kaneko fully recovered from his bout with hemorrhoids, and Prong’s conquest of Europe looming!

Fuzz, that was my wife who took the pic of us 3. So yes, I'm sure you guys will be seeing it when it gets developed. Might take a while as there are 22 pictures left on the roll. You, Jonathon and Yancy should get ahold of me. It shouldn't be a surprise, but it's most definately pleasant. You're real close on the lentgh of the show, I clocked a runtime of just over 93 minutes.

After we left the club, boy did the night ever turn shitty. I realized later that I had lost a $100 battery. mOtherfucker, at least we still have 2 left. I sure hope somebody turned it in at the club. I'll have to call today and find out. Then, we ran out of gas only a few miles outside of our hometown. I thought we had enough to at least get us to the nearest gas station. Guess not. Ths was just after 5 am. I had to call my parents and they came and bailed us out. Thank god for mommy and daddy. At least we were only 15/20 minutes away from their house. We finally made it home about 6:15. If it weren't for meeting you guys and seeing Prong, it would have been a night from hell. Glad to see you guys had as good a time as we did. We'll have to do it again.

It'll be brand new to me

My voice was gone, and my ears were bleeding (felt like it, anyways!), when we left Saturday (actually, Sunday morning) - what a magnificent show! I had hoped to post a review early Sunday, but I am only now starting to partially recover. What a great show of support - couldn’t believe all the dedicated fans that came from all over, to see Prong. You could really tell the band was thrilled, especially Tommy. Sorry to hear you were sick, Flips; was looking forward to saying hello. D.E. - was that you, in that great Ramones jacket? I was about to say hello, when that goofy photographer weasled in between our spots. And what WAS the deal with those 2 tobacco-chewing idiots - one guy kept trying to climb up over my back as if I were a step-ladder. Ooops, too bad he took a spill on that equipment case (goof!)

I was trying to keep track of the songs, but when Tommy said, “I think Karen remembers this one” and pointed at me - I pretty much lost it! (Kept poking the husband in the side all night after that - did Tommy REALLY say my name?!) Monte handed me one of the set lists as he was leaving the stage - although they switched a few songs around in the order, here’s what they played:

Darksigns * Beg to Differ * Out of this Misery* Close the Door * Broken Peace * Rude Wakening * Caprice * Initiation * Lost & Found * Prove You Wrong * Another Wordly Device * Whose Fist * Snap Your Fingers * Test * Controller * Freezer Burn* Unconditional * Cutrate

As Yancy said, the show was simply was too amazing to be put into words. How they can keep improving on their sound, is just mind-boggling; I thought they sounded tight when I saw them in May , more so when I caught them during th Dazig tour; yet they were even better, now. (What are they gonna sound like, when they come back in the spring?!) Wish I had gotten to meet more (or any!) of you - but I really suck at walking up and introducing myself to people. Monte actually saw me walking around before the show, and said hello to me! I took over 3 rolls of pix - got 2 rolls back today, and will pick up the rest later this week; I’ll try to post some of them - if I can figure out how. Anyone out there have an Imac?! Send me some instructions, ok?!

As much as I loved hearing the really early stuff (still can’t get over hearing Freezer Burn!) - I am just dying to hear the new material. I’m like crack-ho, anticipating my next fix - hurry UP, April! Maybe if we all petition Locomotive, they’ll push up the release date? Who’s WITH ME!?!?

Hey guys/gals,

Just wanted to say thanks for the props for Domestic Godzilla. We're a little new to playing really good shows like this and we were really nervous. Thanks for not booing, or throwing shit or anything like that. We appreciate the respect more than you might think. All the people involved in this show were really cool and Project .44 and Prong were all really cool guys. Hope to see you people again at either one of our shows or in the crowd at the next Prong show in Chicago (yes, I was a Prong fan long before I thought I'd ever be opening for them). Peace.

Gabba Gabba Hey, Animal. Yes that was me. Check your messages as I have a proposition for you.