Eagles Club / The Rave in Milwaukee. 2012 Hallowicked.
This review may come off more like a comparison as it would of been impressive to top the 2011 Hallowicked Vip, Show, and After Party experience that the Filmore, the Shelter, and Psychopathic put on.
In 2011 at the Fillmore the VIP was started and you where given the Pass, the 2011 Halloween Single, a Hallowicked 2011 Shirt, the American Psycho Tour CD. You where put in a huge area in the Fillmore with ICP, Twiztid, and Blaze. You had plenty of time to chat them up even though the VIP had been majorly oversold. You could get pics, autographs, discuss life, or even magnets. Hell Jamie talked to a kid about cutting back on cheeseburgers for a solid 10 minutes.
Cut to 2012 Hallowicked at the Rave. VIP Was a pass, a shirt, and a quick, “hey looks its Joe and Joey” Upon arriving at the venue it was explained to those waiting for the VIP passes that Psychopathic was dealing with passes and they had no lists. The box office could either sell you a ticket and send you outside to the line, or give you your will call tickets you ordered for the show. 5:30 came and went, doors opened up at 6:30 and the VIP people where standing in a crowded stairwell near the dressing rooms in the basement of the venue. Here is where I have issues with the venue. The basement was rented out for a large birthday party, so we where stuck listening to spanish music for a solid 30 minutes and they where stuck staring and listening to a rowdy group of juggalos whoop whooping and what not while trying to celebrate. Upstairs at The Rave, a large country concert was going on, and on the second floor Cold187um was about to take the stage.
Finally they got the VIP figured out, pushed us down in small groups of about 8 at a time to meet Joe and Joey in a single file line to get something signed and then pushed through a old pool and out the back of the building. Walking around the building to enter back at the box office you had to be searched again and funneled upstairs since they didn’t want the Juggalos going into the Country Concert obviously. At this point I was still trying to get my “Photo Pass”. The lobby was empty but three photographers just waiting. Texts and emails where sent. Cold187um had played and left the stage, Zug had taken the stage, and then we where granted access.
This was my first time at the venue and the lighting in the Eagles Ballroom was just brutal, not only as a photographer but as a member of the audience even. The sound was good, The merch area was in a horrible spot as that side of the stage is where people enter, exit, as well as Faygo, etc is delivered to the stage. Having to disrupt the line for the merch area each time. I got the last XL 2012 Hallowicked shirt. Then promptly gave it away once in the crowd (I do that). Since I got in way late, I didn’t have much chance to check out other areas of the venue (The balcony, the bars, etc) Did hear that the beer was crazy expensive though.
Zug performed their cover of ‘Cry Little Sister’ and from that moment on, everything else melted away – the music spoke for itself. As a metal fan, I enjoyed every ounce of energy that they where able to perform, wish I would of got in sooner to see the full set list.
While they where setting up for Drive By to take the stage I headed over to the stage entrance area to wait to be let in to snap pics during the first three songs. Venue staff not familiar with me, attempted to give me shit since they do not know me and I am not a “regular” there like local or main stream press… even with the photo pass, but that was squashed before ABK came out alone to rock out a few tracks. After the photo songs where done, headed back out into the crowd and Blaze joined ABK on stage. Drive By put on a good set, it became clear at this point that we had to be at near capacity for the venue as just moving to the other side of the stage to try for some crowd shots was challenging.
Now while waiting to hit the photo pit again when the Clowns take the stage, was told 167 cases of Faygo bottles where at this show, and they where telling anyone participating in the Faygo Armageddon later that they should take it easy and make them last so we don’t run out before the song ends. I found this interesting as I have never heard this before at a clown show, with not many VIP passes sold to this event as previous ones I attended I was anxious to see how it would go. In what seemed like no time at all the curtains where drawn back, and The Ringmaster took the stage!
I was snapping what I could as fog started to roll, and the brutal side and back lights where blinding. When Two hooded figured where carted out to the front of the stage. Slowly Clowns unmasked non other then Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. The chains where undone and they where unleashed to start a onslaught of new and old tracks with Faygo spray flying everywhere. Two liters rocketing into the crowd of excited Lo’s and Lette’s trying to get closer to the stage!
I had wondered how the mighty death pop would be entered into the set list that I have grown very familiar with over the past couple years. Of course they dropped Chris Benoit and The Mighty Death Pop into the Mix. However hearing Night of the Chainsaw which was just released as the newest video on hatchetmantv.com. Was a sight to see and fit perfect with the Hallowicked theme. They also threw in the Jump Around Remix which amped up the already energy filled juggalo crowd in the eagles ballroom.
Now it was time to see how it would all end. I joined the others on stage to let loose a large portion of the 1336 Faygo bottles that where sprayed onto the crowd and even the unsuspecting event staff… (got ya). Bang Pow Boom is a very long song, but for some reason when your dousing hundreds of juggalos in Faygo repeatedly it seems to be one of the fastest songs in the set list. If you have not participated in Faygo Armageddon I highly suggest you find a way to do so.
There was no after party in Milwaukee, so I have to say that This was one hell of a time, a great event, and I enjoyed myself. However Hallowicked is something that should be experienced in Detroit. There are still tickets for the Detroit Show, VIP, and After Party available. So what are you ninjas waiting for? Start heading that way!! hatchetgear.com I wish I was going! -Hazin
