The good: I caught the Skinny Puppy show at Webster Hall last night. It wasn’t sold out, I guess because they just did two shows here back in June and the fall tour hasn’t been well publicized. But that turned out well for those of us who were there, since there wasn’t really a pit to speak of and I don’t think there was a single crowdsurfer there all night. Instead, there were just a lot of fans who like Skinny Puppy enough to see them twice or three times in a year. I managed to be first in line before the show, so I was front and center against the barricade, and I have the bruises and aching feet to show for it. I also spent most of this morning getting mud and fake blood out of my hair, but I figure it was worth it.

As for the show itself, it was just as good as the one I saw in June. Here’s the setlist, if you’re interested:

1. Downsizer
2. I’mmortal
3. Pro-Test
4. Empte
5. Curcible
6. God’s Gift (Maggot)
7. VX Gas Attack
8. Worlock
9. Deep Down Trauma Hounds
10. Hexonxonx
11. Tin Omen
12. Inquisition
13. Hardset Head
14. Human Disease (S.K.U.M.M.)
15. Harsh Stone White
16. Reclamation
17. The Choke
18. Smothered Hope

Highlights were probably Human Disease and Deep Down Trauma Hounds. I’m not sure why they translate so well to a live format, but they do. Smothered Hope seemed to be the only thing that everyone knew the lyrics to, but that’s probably for the best.

As for the bad: Chris and I went to see Saw today. If you haven’t seen it, don’t bother. It’s bad enough to be funny, but not bad enough to spend $10.50 on. Wait for the DVD, but be prepared for a couple of hours of stunningly bad acting, painful dialog, and a complete absence of that much-anticipated gore.