† I'm back from my first ever live HIM experience. I was at both the Houston and Ft. Worth shows, so I shall review both for you.

10.27.05 - Houston, TX.

† Man, talk about security! These guys were all over the place tossing people out for using their Sidekicks to take pictures. They really adhered to the "NO CAMERAS" policy. I was set to meet the band tonight, but some wires got crossed and I didn't know where to get my passes. So I journey to the loading dock, where I think I'm supposed to be.

The HIM crew was great, they tried to do what they could to find the right people. Then they disappear and a Verizon Theatre security guy comes out. This guy enjoys his job entirely too much. He nearly kicked my ass for standing there. Really.

So I'm banished behind the barricade. Out of the bus come Mige and Burton. I guess when I called out to them, I stepped over the line and the security guy had had enough of me. I'm now banished across the street, like common street trash!

But I digress. On to the show.

Skindred
† I was busy dropping some hard earned cash at the merchandise booth. I walked away with 2 shirts, a flask, a lanyard and the lovely photo book. The flask is pimp. Well worth the cash. I spent so much time at the booth that I missed Skindred. I just heard music playing from the floor. Then I heard the singer say "When I say 'fuck' you say 'shit'!" or something similar to that.

Did the guy notice the ages of the audience members? Ah well, I totally missed them. Finch was set to play next.

Finch
† Fucking ew. They sound like every other half-ass emo band out there. Their first CD was so much better.

HIM
† I'm unsure of the order, but I know the first two and last two are correct.

Vampire Heart
Right Here In My Arms
Soul on Fire
Under the Rose
It's All Tears
Your Sweet Six Six Six
Wicked Game
Join Me
Poison Girl
Razorblade Kiss
Behind the Crimson Door
Play Dead
Killing Loneliness
Buried Alive By Love
The Sacrament
Wings of a Butterfly (Dedicated to vegetarians)
Poison Heart (Encore)

That was the setlist for tonight. The place wasn't sold out, but HIM rocked the entire house. The band pretty much tore through their set with very little banter. They just kept the show rolling. Ville let the audience do the intro to "Poison Girl" and bowed to us because we knew the words. I have to say that the song with the most energy had to be "Wings of a Butterfly;" which Ville said was dedicated to vegetarians. My favorite song of the night had to be "Under the Rose." It just sounds so fucking good live.

I can't remember when, but at one point Ville picked up a pair of boxers and hung them around Mige's mic. Being that Mige was doing backing vocals, Mige made a motion indicating that they smelled. It was amusing. After the encore of "Poison Heart" Ville had walked off stage. The rest of the band kept jamming right along. Linde eventually walked off, followed by Mige, then Burton and finally Gas. Not bad for my first HIM show. Not to shabby by any means. The house lights came on and "Plasma Mullet" played over the PA.