Five Bands Rock the Mounds Theatre for Minnesota Satanists
Abbadon at Bands of the Beast II. Todd Wardrope
On September 21, 2024, Minnesota Satanists held their second annual Bands of the Beast fundraising concert at the Historic Mounds Theatre in St. Paul. This show featured a lineup of five bands performing a wide variety of tunage more or less thematic to the goals of the event. Datura Dread and Collective Fate brought the howling fury of femme-fronted metal. Abbadon brought a theatrical mix of industrial and synth tunes with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The Violet Ghost switched things up with a moody and impressive set of synth beats that could power several giallo or Cosmatos flicks. A cluster of Satanists even got up and danced with nary a bonfire in sight.
Virgin Whores wrapped the night up with a full-tilt blast of the kind of punk rock they’ve played far and wide for over a decade. Lead singer Soxxx spent much of the show sporting a blood-soaked nun’s habit, fully embracing the spectacle and sentiment of the evening. In true punk spirit, minor tech setbacks didn’t slow them down until the curtain dropped on the event.
When bands weren’t tearing up the fairly expansive Mounds stage, Minnesota Satanists founder and event emcee Asmodeus Sion spoke to the goals of the organization. Minnesota Satanists describe themselves as “a community-focused group of like-minded individuals who gather under common beliefs and values. Although we venerate the literary figure of Satan, we do not believe they are a real entity, nor do we worship them.”
At the event, Asmodeus led a short Satanic ritual and performed a brief baptism for many eager attendees. Near the end of the evening, he announced that he would be leading the Coalition of Satanic Congregations, a newly formed independent group of organized nontheistic Satanists.
Overall, Bands of the Beast was fun and jovial. The strongest impression I have of the event was how well Mounds Theatre could accommodate a rock show like this. Given the size and capabilities of the venue, I wouldn’t be surprised if more shows are hosted there, especially once the new transit stop out front is fully operational.
Correction, October 3, 2024: The original version of this article incorrectly referred to the baptism performed at this event as an unbaptism.
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About the Author
Todd Wardrope
Todd has been a passionate fan of the Twin Cities music scene since Hüsker Dü was still playing together as a band. While we are a long way off from the all-ages exuberance of the late-’80s punk scene, he is dedicated to capturing and telling the stories of the vibrant music scene of today.
