After his nearly 25 years in the spotlight, possibly the most shocking thing about Marilyn Manson is that he’s still around. When the provocative rocker debuted with his spooky cover of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” in 1995 and followed it up with button-pushing original songs like “The Beautiful People” and “The Dope Show,” few people probably expected that he’d have a long career. Artists like that often flame out quickly, once the furor surrounding their controversial music dies down. But while Manson may no longer make headlines, he’s still making music, adding maturity and musical sophistication to his dark lyrical themes and pounding industrial guitars.
Manson’s eponymous band has gone through numerous lineup changes, but Manson himself has remained the focus, with his larger-than-life stage presence, his ominous vocals and his talent for finding just the right collaborators for musical experimentation. Manson’s 2017 album Heaven Upside Down was one of the most acclaimed of his career, dubbed “Manson at his most human” by All Music. Behind the sneers and the incendiary lyrics, there’s a genuine artist with far more to offer than his critics ever gave him credit for, and he’s not going away any time soon.
The Pearl at Palms, 9 p.m. Oct. 31, starting at $55 plus tax and fee. 702.944.3200
