Skinny Puppy Say Farewell at the Belasco: The final stop on the second leg of Skinny Puppy's final tour was Los Angeles, and the last of four nights at this city's Belasco took place on Tuesday evening, December 5. So unless the core members -- Orge and cEvin Key -- have a massive change if heart, that was the last ever Skinny Puppy show.

A change of heart is unlikely; when chatting to the two men for our cover story last month, Ogre offered a swift "No" when asked if he'll miss performing with Key. Key was a little more diplomatic.

"Throughout my history of performing with Ogre, even witnessing his performances is unbelievable. The guy puts everything into the performances and into the shows. Quite honestly, most of our problems were off stage. On stage, we seem to have a huge amount of respect for what each other does. So I don’t disrespect the work."



That's fair enough. Skinny Puppy certainly made it their business to put on a stellar show as they likely performed together for the last time. Ogre's trademark theatricality was in full effect as he hobbled onto the stage  during the opening "Brap" (one of three versions of that piece aired during the set), a sheet draped over what we later learn is an alien's head.

During the show, scientists measured his alien cranium and generally fucked around with him. The showy elements balanced precariously on the line separating cool from cringy, but just about stayed on the right side.



There was no interaction between Ogre and Key, but then there never really was. Key, behind his mass of electronic gadgetry, keeps his head down and goes about his business of creating gloriously insane, beautiful and mind-numbingly intense sounds.

The rest of the band is tight -- Skinny Puppy's full touring lineup was a finely tuned machine by the time they blasted out their last tune. Yeah, all eyes are on Ogre, such is the nature of his "what the fuck is the maxKey in particular are a perfect industrial partnership.

The setlist was awesome -- you can see in it below. But this show was more about the full experience than picking out specific songs from favorite albums.  But when they ended with "Candle," and then the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Ogre, the weight of the moment was felt.

“I clearly remember saying in interviews back in the ’80s that there’s no way we’re gonna be doing this when we’re 60,” Key told us. “So now we’re 60-plus, and it’s bizarre that we’re still going... What’s really great is that this last tour has been the most enjoyable tour I think I’ve ever had with the band. So in a lot of ways, maybe saying ‘this is it’ made it a lot easier to approach it and to take it on.”

Not for us, sir. Not for us.



Earlier, Paul Barker's reanimated project Lead Into Gold hammered through a typically (for Barker) imaginative, experimental, challenging but ultimately enjoyable set. A version of Barker's own "Heroine's Habit" was a nice surprise, and Lead Into Gold proved to be the perfect opener for Skinny Puppy.

Skinny Puppy Say Farewell at the Belasco: For more info, visit skinnypuppy.com.
 
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