Freaks On Parade Tour Recap

The aptly named Freaks on Parade Tour was not one to be missed. With a four-act lineup featuring Powerman 5000, Static-X, Mudvayne, and Rob Zombie, the monthlong Summer tour came to a close last weekend at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX.

Kicking off the show just after 6PM was Powerman 5000. Helmed by frontman Spider One, the younger brother of headliner Rob Zombie, PM5K put on a short but lively set including “Nobody’s Real” and “When Worlds Collide” which gave fans a good preview of what was in store.

Next up was Static-X. Following the death of frontman Wayne Static in 2014, Static-X has toured with an unnamed singer, wearing a mask similar to that which Static wore when with the band. Despite this, the band put on a great set including “Push It” and “Wisconsin Death Trip,” with bassist Tony Campos diving into the pit halfway through the closing track.

Following Static-X, Mudvayne took the stage. With vocalist Chad Gray covered in fake blood and prosthetics, Mudvayne played through a 13-song setlist with an energy and emotion that I quite honestly was not expecting from the metal band. At several points during the show, Gray climbed off the stage and stood on the edge of the pit, giving those at the rail an up-close and personal experience. Opening with the song that arguably led to their initial popularity, “Dig,” Mudvayne closed the set out with “Happy?,” and handed the stage to headliner Rob Zombie.

Emerging from the top of a massive skull, Rob Zombie kicked off the show with a track from his newest album, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, “The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition).”

With bassist Piggy D donning a glittery, sequined suit, and guitarist John 5 in red latex coat, Zombie moved around the stage with a swagger and energy that appeared almost demonic at times. Playing through classic songs like “Superbeast” and White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human,” Zombie put on one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time, with the crowd jumping and headbanging to nearly every song.

Just before closing off the show, Zombie showed a trailer for his upcoming film The Munsters, which releases next month on Netflix. As the trailer ended, Zombie retook the stage for arguably his biggest hit, “Dragula.” It was definitely a show to remember.