Sick New World Sideshow with FRONT 242 : Black Out with NITZER EBB in Las Vegas

Electronic pioneers Nitzer Ebb and Industrial legends Front 242 played a one off in Las Vegas leading up to the Sick New World Festival, where we got to relish in a longer set from both bands, and a more intimate good bye, with Front 242 calling it quits after this Black Out tour, and Nitzer Ebb's Douglas McCarthy's withdrawal from touring for health reasons. This show packed the Brooklyn Bowl in Vegas, and the crowd was a real mix of young and old, local and international, all there to dance and get a chance to see theses iconic bands in a more intimate room.

Nitzer Ebb began the night, the band continuing now with Bon Harris on full vocal duties, and David Gooday backing and drums and electronics. NE has a reputation for the naughty, and started right in with the mega "Control I'm Here" and the party was on. The set really hit all the bases, with "Hearts and Minds", "Lightening Man", "For Fun" and more, culminating with a thunderous "Join in the Chant" near the climax, to wrap with "Murderous". Indeed.

Front 242 came out swinging, with strobes and flashlights and a frenzy of sound and light. Vocalist Jean-Luc De Meyer and Richard 23 (Jonckheere) were both front and center, blasting off the set with "First In/First Out" from Front By Front, an album that became the top selling album in the history of Industrial's Wax Trax! Records. Founding member Patrick Codenys stood stoically behind his Kronos synth, and percussionist Tim Kroker played a more classic drum set, as the stage vibrated and the party started with the industrial dance sound of "Don't Crash". The 18 song set included some non-released recent songs including "Generator" and "Fix It", and the big hits "Tragedy (For You)" and "Headhunter", while the crowd screamed and danced along. The

show culminated in the chant classic "Welcome to Paradise", to the yells of "in the name of Jesus", a wild and sweaty ending to a blast into our industrial past, from a band that made a profound and measurable influence on decades of music to come.

Front 242 has a few US dates left in 2024, some in September and November, before your chance to see

these legends in this capacity in gone. It was thrilling to see both Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 together for this special sideshow, and it was the FIRST time I have ever seen two bands completely sell out of ALL merchandise at a show. I tried to get the dated special shirt for this one off show and did't even come close. Every single piece of merch was gone, a couple of guys were fighting over a lone military cap when I tried back again hoping for a miracle. But... Front 242 has merch on sale HERE, and a list of their remaining Black Out tour dates. In the name of Jesus, GO.