May 13, 2025 – Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia PA
Photography & Review by Estelle Massry
Frontman of Ministry Al Jourgensen may have wanted to keep the past in the past but with encouragement from his band, Ministry is currently on tour supporting The Squirrely Years Revisited, a re-recording of songs from With Sympathy and the band’s second album, Twitch. The venue was a perfect match for the much anticipated celebration of their early synth-pop/goth era show that was about to go down which never expected to see the light of day again!
Jourgensen appeared on stage dressed in a sequin jacket, heart-shaped sunglasses and an oversized furry hat with a huge smile on his face. The warm and overzealous welcome was 40 years of energy bottled up inside of fans waiting to hear these songs played live.
Ministry kicked things off with “Work for Love” from With Sympathy to which fans erupted. The 1984 club anthem “(Everyday Is) Halloween” unified the fans as goths, punks, and metalheads all came together. One of my Ministry favorite song “I’ll Do Anything for You” was a highlight of the night for me. I watched the crowd and there was a presence of joy as fans danced freely taking the music in as if they were in a bit of a trance. The energy was calm but also intense. For the encore, Ministry took things in a different direction and performed a cover of Fad Gadget’s “Ricky’s Hand” followed by their cover of 1978’s “Do You Think I’m Sexy?”
The band (inclusive of backup dancers) compliment each other seamlessly while individually bringing a retro yet very unique flair to the stage. The band consists of Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto on guitar, Paul D’Amore on bass, John Bechdel on keys and Pepe Clarke Magaña on drums. The costumes and set design were a bit of a departure from what I’ve seen previously at Ministry shows but they enhanced and created a new experience.
The tour that was never meant to happen is clearly satisfying fans and making new ones in the process. Jourgensen seems to have made peace with Ministry’s synthpop past and is not taking things too seriously. I’ve seen a few Ministry shows and this may have been the first time I saw him smile, laugh and really have fun. The show was nothing but a good time and a celebration, don’t miss it!
For more info please visit http://www.ministryband.com
Setlist
- Work for Love
- Here We Go
- All Day
- I’ll Do Anything for You
- Same Old Madness
- ‘Cause We’re in Love Again
- I’m Falling
- Just Like You
- Over the Shoulder
- We Believe
- Effigy (I’m Not An)
- Revenge
- (Everyday Is) Halloween
- Ricky’s Hand (Encore)
- Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (Encore)