Marilyn Manson is a pretentious douche chill. I don’t deny this, have never denied this, and yet… I do consider myself a fan. The truth is, the guy makes catchy, industrialized pop metal — like Nine Inch Nails without all the genius baggage. The only album he’s ever made that I really out and out hated was 2009’s The High End of Low, which was like the world’s laziest attempt to continue the more-rock-and-less-electronica direction of 2007’s way-underrated Eat Me, Drink Me. So while I’m not exactly sitting in my chair strokin’ it in anticipation of his album, Born Villain, I am curious to hear it, sure.

And that release is apparently done, or close to done, ’cause Manson has just announced a U.S. headlining tour, which will kick off at the end of April. As is the case with all great pop metallers, Manson knows how to put on a fun, theatrical show with lots of production value, so assuming you don’t mind navigating a sea of overweight faux-goths, there are worse ways to spend your evening than at one of these concerts. Then again, I’m not going to tell you “OMG YOU MUST GO TO ONE OF THESE SHOWS!”, ’cause I’d be lying.

So, yeah. If you wanna go, here are dates, courtesy of The PRP:

04/27 Providence, RI – Lupo’s At The Strand

04/28 Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Casino

04/29 Huntington, NY – Paramount Theatre

05/01 Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore

05/02 Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theatre

05/04 Atlantic City, NJ – House Of Blues

05/05 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

05/06 Grand Rapids, MI – Orbit Room

05/08 Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom

05/09 Sioux Falls, SD – W.H. Lyons Fair Grounds

05/11 Dallas, TX – House Of Blues

05/12 San Antonio, TX – Sunken Gardens

05/13 Houston, TX – House Of Blues

05/15 Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom

05/16 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre

05/18 Minneapolis, MN – The Brick

05/19 Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom

05/20 Columbus, OH – Rock On The Range Festival

-AR