Recently, I had the utmost pleasure to go to Detroit’s Masonic Temple to witness “The Horror Master” John Carpenter live in concert. While some people write books and then go on tours where they read passages, Carpenter directed movies and composed the scores to the vast majority of them. This meant that he could play some notes and suddenly we’re taken back with him to a different time, to when masked killers stalked the streets, to when authors disappeared and had to be found, to when an alien virus threatened all of humanity…

Related: John Carpenter’s ‘Lost Themes II’ is a Delight (Review)

For me, this was a special event because Carpenter’s music and his films have long been a part of my life. This was an opportunity to see the man himself performing, in a strange sense, his autobiography. I and the audience were witness not only to the legendary director sharing his themes with us, we were also there to celebrate his own incredible journey.

The event I went to was essentially a two-parter. First, there was a screening of Escape From New York and then the concert followed shortly thereafter.

I entered the screening thinking that this was going to be just like most theater experiences. People are quiet, they watch the movie, it ends, that’s it. But I was completely wrong.

Acting like this was a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Room, the audience was wildly and excitedly involved throughout the film. There were constant hisses piercing the air when Snake Plissken was introduced and again when his stomach tattoo first made its appearance. Jeers and laughs punctuated the film as it became abundantly clear that this audience was wholly engaged and delightfully upbeat. This wasn’t just a concert, it was a gathering of likeminded individuals who were there to share in their love of Carpenter and I felt at home amongst “my people”.

As the movie’s runtime dwindled, the joy and excitement became more and more palpable as the promise of Carpenter taking the stage drew ever closer. After a short intermission, the lights in the hall shut off and a thunderous roar burst from the lungs of every attendee.

Carpenter and crew took the stage, their steps light as they almost bounced to their stations. They then opened the concert with the main theme from Escape From New York. Even though we had just seen the movie, that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the performance. In fact, I’d hazard a guess that it only elevated our appreciation as memories of Snake kicking ass were fresh in our minds.

What followed was a night of hearing some of Carpenter’s most recognized and esteemed themes, including Halloween, Big Trouble in Little China, Assault on Precinct 13, In the Mouth of Madness, and many more. When they played the theme from The Thing, Carpenter addressed the crowd and made it 100% clear that it was originally composed by Ennio Morricone. It was a wonderful moment, one where he showed his humbleness and appreciation. He could’ve simply played the track and left it at that. Instead, he paid his respects, which only increased mine for him.

Each theme was accompanied by montage of scenes from the respective film shown on a large screen behind the band. When the band played original tracks from Lost Themes and Lost Themes II, no video was shown. Instead, the stage would find itself illuminated in stunning colors, like something out of a giallo film.

What perhaps brought the biggest smile to my face wasn’t the various themes or seeing the original tracks performed. It was seeing Carpenter obviously enjoy himself enormously. He moved and sashayed next to his keyboard, clearly loving every moment. Sure, he danced like an old man but the fact that he still derives such pleasure is in and of itself a marvel and I found myself thinking how lucky I was to partake in seeing this.

Seeing John Carpenter live is a celebration of a career that spans nearly 40 years. It is a chance to recognize the brilliance of one of horror’s most esteemed and beloved figures. This was an evening that I will never forget and an event that I hope will return one day so that I can experience it again.

Set List:
Escape From New York: Main Title
Assault on Precinct 13: Main Title
“Vortex”
“Mystery”
The Fog: Main Title Theme
They Live: Coming To L.A.
The Thing: Main Theme – Desolation (Ennio Morricone cover)
“Distant Dream”
Big Trouble in Little China: Pork Chop Express
“Wraith”
“Night”
Halloween Theme – Main Title
In the Mouth of Madness: In The Mouth Of Madness

Encore:
Prince of Darkness: Darkness Begins
“Virtual Survivor”
“Purgatory”
Christine: Christine Attacks (Plymouth Fury)

Photo by Allie Shambles

Photo by Allie Shambles

Photo by Allie Shambles