Happy Easter from Chicago!! In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up for Ministry

I thought that today it would be appropriate to give a brief scream out to one of the most unrelenting live records out there, Alain Jourgensen and Ministry's In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up.

Just like a car crash

Ostensibly a six song ep, it is nonetheless 40 vitriolic minutes, and a lot angrier than most live albums. There isn't a lot more to say about this except that it captures the band during their 1989-90 tour. This is early in their career, not that long after they metamorphosized from a synth dance group to the sonic behemoths that we know and love. There was quite a scene in Chicago then, with great bands like Big Black, The Effigies, Naked Raygun, The Didjits (from Champaign), to name a few.

Being an old fart, and seeing so many bands follow in the wake of these trailblazers, I find that I have gotten too inured to this and the music seems samey. It must be fun to be up on stage strutting around with a bullhorn, but as a spectator the overwhelming angst makes me feel as though I'm the band's bartender, listening to all their problems, commiserating with them in their white hot rage. And I'm not as angry as I used to be, just saving it up for special occasions.

But I still give these guys credit--they really put it out there on this one. Alain is in raspy wicked form. And the band purees you down to hamburger with their vicious musical assault. And Jello Biafra is a special guest.

That's what friends are for. Another round of Trivial Pursuit.

"Alien" Jourgensen: Vocs, guitar

Paul Barker: Bass, Keys

William Rieflin: Drums

Chris Connelly: Keys, vocs

Mike Scaccia: Guitar

Martin Atkins: Drums

Terry Roberts: Guitar

Nivek Ogre: Keys, Guitar, vocs

William Tucker: Guitar

Joe Kelly: Background Vocals

Jello Biafra: Flag Pledge

The main reason I put this post together is because of the final song on the ep, the absolutely crushing 9 and a half minutes of Stigmata. It just reminds me of Spring and rebirth. I recall listening to this version of the song and it seemed like the noise kept ratcheting higher throughout the song, and of course the vocals are a giant furious middle finger to organized society.

So what better theme music to orchestrate your Easter Egg hunt to?