Los Angeles Sucks

Los Angeles is the shittiest city I've ever been to. On our way to see the Manson concert in LA, we seen a couple of wrecks, but nothing impressive. As we finally reached the city limits, we felt the smog and pollution growing heavy in our lungs. The signs on the highway were darkened from the smog. My car had a film on it like someone washed my car in soot. The city itself is horribly fake. Everyone we saw was either a genetic defect or a perfect Barbie/Ken doll come to life. It wasn't pretty.

The show went well, save the fact that Manson didn't play anything from the first album circa '94, which is around the time that I had discovered the band. A friend had told me that if I liked Nine Inch Nails, I might want to check them out. So I did, and I've been a fan since the day I first listened to them on my CD walkman at the Taco Bell in Dyersburg, TN. I first saw Manson in 1996 at the height of the Antichrist Superstar tour and I was a changed person. I finally got a raw taste of everything my parents hated and I loved. I took a lot of shit for it in High School and I didn't care. I don't care now. Think what you want. I knew even when I was 15 or 16 that there was more intelligence and rebellion to this band than I had ever seen before and haven't seen since. Most people scoff at the idea and say that he's a loony, without really knowing anything of which they speak. Well, I've heard it all. I've been in conversations and I've heard all the ignorant, close-minded fuckhead arguments you can envision. It bores me. But I'm not going to defend Manson. Either you like him or you don't. If you don't like him now, you never will. About the show...the Greek Theater in LA sucks. There were around 50 people in what would normally be called a "pit" area. The pit was pitiful. Behind that, we were all sitting down in ampitheater seating. Boring. I was pretty much dead center to everything, so I couldn't get quite the experience I was hoping for. I wanted a balls-to-the-wall full-frontal assault on my senses. I got low-impact theater seating around a bunch of people who stood there looking irritated. Actually, a lot of them were smoking marriage-you-wanna and putting it out as soon as they seen security coming close. I just kept throwing my fist in the air and drinking more beer. The show was impressive, but I wanted to be near the action. If I ever go see them, or any other band, I won't go unless I'm close enough to see them playing the music.

As Manson closed up the show, we made our way out to the parking lot and waited to leave. On the drive home we decided to get some more beer and go back to the hotel and party. The after-show festivities were more intense. Other than the fact that I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard on a Friday night with a beer in my hand and no one saying anything, we kept out of trouble. Yes, I know this is illegal. But, it's harmless. As long as everyone isn't doing it, it's fine. We're making our way down Hollywood Boulevard and we notice two females bickering. Guys pile around a skimpy firecracker Mexican in a short skirt and a floozy white chick in grunge dumpster fashion. It didn't take long. Soon they were dragging each other by the hair and punching whatever they could hit. Nothing brings guys together like two dames scrappin' or making love. Whitey finally pins Mexico on the ground and starts thrashing her face into a bruise farm. As grungy is pouncing on the senorita on the sidewalk, her skirt is wide open to the world sans underwear. The Mexican is getting her face hammered on one side and drunk men are crowding around taking a gander at her gaping fish taco on the other. Sex and violence on the streets of Hollywood. As I'm standing there, beer in hand, LAPD swoop down from the sky and break it up. Actually, they ran from the street, but you know... The crowd of men split and we're high-tailing it to get something to eat. Drinking and watching two amateur female prizefighters makes you hungry. We were surprised that there wasn't more illegal activity going on. I was expecting police brutality, overturned cars, and burning buildings. No such luck. Maybe next time.