Inside the venue, Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall, the atmosphere was strange. No real buzz that precedes many gigs but an array of people across a broad age spectrum (quite literally 8 – 80), patiently waiting for Ian Astbury and his band of merry men to take to the stage. And at 9.15 pm on Wednesday 26th January they did just that. And then some …..
Formed in 1984, The Cult have something of an extensive and impressive back-catalogue with which to fill 90 minutes or so. However, as Ian Astbury informed us, this was not a “jukebox, same old, same old” kind of tour. There’s new material – learned especially for us apparently, which was well mixed in with a spattering of Cult classics.
Astbury’s fascination of all things Navaho was clearly evident, with ear-splitting whoops and yelps throughout, and a back-drop showing films and imagery of Indians and Shamen on their reservations. There also seems to be a Tibetan thing going on somewhere – maybe he’s trying to give Bono a run for his money?
Despite the new material having a calming influence on the crowd, the moshers moshed their way through the older material, and I have to admit to being relieved at having a seat up on the balcony, pleased to be “middle aged” for once! And a quick calculation that She Sells Sanctuary was released some 26 years ago really did me no favours in the fossil stakes – until Astbury pointed out that “we need more middle aged rockers, go home young people!” I’ll have a pint of whatever he was drinking throughout the 2nd half of the gig, please!
It’s obvious that the band have spent far too long in the States, with Mr Motormouth’s Bradford roots and accent long since gone. There’s also something of the Jim Morrison in Astbury’s performance – something that the surprising last song of the night confirmed – a fantastic cover of The Doors’ Break On Through, ironically one of the stand-out songs of the night for me.
A great gig, ear-splittingly loud, full of energy and hair-flicking, with heaps of layered jangling guitars courtesy of the legendary Billy Duffy. Yes, The Cult still have it, for sure!
Set List
Rain
White
Encore:
I was about to comment something like why did they play LoveCats only then to realise I had The Cult and The Cure muddled up. Okay I need to go and have a music lesson lol.
ReplyDeleteDeevs had a great nite out xxxxx
ReplyDeletenot been a cult fan myself. . More a Duran Duran fan myself. ..
And with tonsilitis too xxx poor you xxx
Deevs - thanks for the review! Glad it was a top evening. Good on the frontman giving a shout-out to the classic (not old or middle-aged Deevs - never that - just "classic") rockers!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not going to pretend. A-ha were in their heydey while I was at school. I don't think I'm ideal Goth material...!
Hope your bug clears up very soon sweetie.
love, Ruth and Jasper (something of a doggy-goth!) xxx
Any Gig is a good one (assuming one likes the band or the type of music) but good on you for having gone. I went to SLF at my local giggery in 09 and although i wasn't by far the eldest there i certainly wasn't the youngest. I went with my Daughter (22) as the missus isn't into big crowds let alone punk. We had a good time apart from some pissed up drunk bloke staggering all over the place so spent a fair bit of time stopping from bumping into Bob (daughter) There was a local band on 1st who did covers of Jam Madness SLF and several other groups . . the lead singer must have been about 12 and the blokes with him were my age .. which was good to see. I was looking forward to seeing Chelsea play (although i was never really a fan 1st time round) only to find they stunk. The lead singer gobbed everywhere (might have been for effect though) and was drunk (very) or off his face on some illegal substance (kinda spoilt that part of the gig) and then SLF came on and just about blew the cobwebs away. I sang and danced (pogo'd) to every track and had a throughly good time (last saw them in 81-82 at Brixton Academny) I am hoping to go to more funds allowing. I managed to sponge a proper set list from one the security guards (same one who lobbed the drunkard out after i pointed out that he was in danger bouncing into Bob) was i knackered . . yes would i go again YES without a doubt :-D
ReplyDeletesorry what started off as a little aside and nice one for going has turned into a full on blog . . shoulda set this up on my own blog
off now
steve :-D
Last gig I went to was KT Tunstall in October - it was a little disconcerting how many older men there were there lol. Then again we were in about the third row it was very loud and I went home with a sore throat from singing too loud and shouting lol.
ReplyDelete