What a great show! The boys came out and blistered the stage like only they can. The energy was fierce, from the dimming of the house lights until the boys walked off the stage. I can not fully express the feeling of the show.
Amazed to hear the Love Album Live. (can I say album? Did I just date myself?) I have heard a few songs live here and there but never presented in this way. Glad my live show list is growing with this show.
If you get a chance to catch this Love Show you will be in for a sweeeet treat! I had a few Cult newbies and a few diehards with me and we all came away totally impressed.
For a first timer at a House of Blues show they did the venue correctly, the sound was great and the a/v backdrop was hip. Noticed Ian was not dancing around as much. I guess the hip is still tender? It would have been funny to see Ian in long straight hair again. Well we as an audience were not dancing around as much either, age takes it toll on us all. His voice was spot on being in the middle of a tour. Billy was commanding the right side of the stage as usual. He just does not miss a beat. The rest of the boys, John, Chris and Mike, have become tight as the backbone of the band.
Please head to this show if you get a chance, you will be kicking yourself later it you miss it. I flew in from Tampa Bay, Florida to catch the Dallas, Texas show. The guy behind me in line was in from Phoenix, Arizona. Yeah the old boys still have pulling power of their fans.
Texas Cult 'Love Live' in the Big D. I looked forward to this tour so much that I refused to check out any of the video clips of individual songs posted online from past shows. I wanted to get it straight from the source and let it kick my ass.
Sign on the front door of the Dallas House of Blues said that the show was Sold Out. Very encouraging! Strolled on in with my beautiful wife and had an ice cold Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest from the beer tap and made our way to the front of the line for admission to the show. Saw several familiar Tribe faces, and met other posters at cultcentral for the first time. The air was abuzz with anticipation – people saying, “Can you believe this is happening?”
The doors were opened and I took my usual position – directly in front of Astbury’s mic stand, front and center.
Opening band was Living Things. I have both of their records, so this was a real treat to catch them live. Sadly, their sound man did not have them dialed in correctly, so all that was heard was guitarist Cory Becker’s way-too-loud lead guitar. The bass and vocals were lost, the drums were clear only because they were played 10 feet in front of my face. If you didn’t know the songs, this was a bad introduction, which is a shame because they are a good band. I still sang along best I could.
The Love Album, to me, was one of the very best records of the 1980’s. Each individual song carries a special meaning to me from some moment of my life. My soundtrack. Having seen every tour that the Cult has done since Love’s release, I’ve dreamed of hearing all of the songs, in order, all at once. Just like you have.
And now it’s become reality.
I didn’t want to look at the set list when it was taped to the Indian carpet laid down for Ian to stand on. Just bring it on.
The lights went down and the band came onstage to lively applause. Armed and loaded, Billy Duffy pointed back to drummer John Tempesta to begin, and the opening notes of ‘Nirvana’ travelled from Bill’s fingers on that familiar Gretsch White Falcon, through stacks of Marshall cabinets with Matchless and Roland amps, straight to my soul. Another roar went up from the crowd when Ian Astbury hit the stage. Resplendent in black leather jacket and black leather gloves, the show was on. Ian’s voice is splendid and Billy is pleased with the sound. The children are in motion. Everything is as it should be.
‘Nirvana’ bled into ‘Big Neon Glitter’ and, while some sang along, I stood stunned at hearing this song played live and focused on Duffy’s riffs.
‘Love.’ Tonight, not just a Cult song; it was all around in the House of Blues. I was fully entranced, not only in the moment, but in realization of all of the moments of 25 years of listening. I sang and danced with complete abandon. Hypnotized. Mesmerized. The dream set come alive.
‘Brother Wolf Sister Moon’ – Chris Wyse played the bass lines on his regular bass guitar and not his stand-up that he used during the 2006 tour. There was a retrospective hush in the arena as the song played, people holding their hands up above their heads. Free. Before the children could react to the spiritual place the song brought us, the drums of ‘Rain’ began. The raised hands clapped time in unison, led by Ian himself. The sing-along was on.
Again, it was only a moment before Billy D started melting his strings for ‘The Phoenix’. Ian danced about with his head reared back, evoking a scene that oddly reminded me of the Doors movie when Morrison was dancing in a circle while First Nation men, dressed in buckskin and feathers, were all around him. All I could do was close my eyes and follow.
‘Hollow Man’ – how this gem never made it into regular live performance, I’ll never know. The song really presents well and Billy’s guitar playing is awesome. Ian sang every ‘yeah-yeah’ just like on the record too. Now,. I’ve had several conversations with Ian over the years – many of which I’ve shared with you here. So I have a little bit of ‘face value’ I guess. Ian saw me, completely liberated of all my dramas and stress, on the front row. During the guitar break, he walked to the side of his monitor, bent down, and extended his hand to me. We shook hands like old friends; not a ‘knuckle’ or a ‘low-5’, but firm, like brothers. When we let go, I felt tears run down both of my cheeks. The music and the moment transcended as one and my spirit soared. I’m a pretty hard old dude, but this night I was reduced –or elevated- to affected devotee. Great moment. But then again, something magical always happens at a Cult show. Right?
‘Revolution’ – this was the only song that I really noticed the backdrop film. Visions of people who’ve ‘stood up’ were recognized – Martin Luther King reading a book by Mohandas Gandhi followed by an image of Gandhi himself. The Berlin Wall coming down. Fighting in the streets. I used the song to center and regain my composure.
‘She Sells Sanctuary’ seemed to bring the whole house to an advanced state of united joy. This is what a Cult show is supposed to feel like. Everybody was tuned in to the same frequency. All my senses were abuzz. And we danced and sang. The backdrop showed the First Nation chief as seen on the 12” single.
‘Black Angel’ – Not since I heard ‘Wild Hearted Son’ played the first time was I so impressed by a live Cult song. There was an undefined ‘something’ about the song that everyone I spoke with after the show commented about. It really struck deep. The dark scenes of graveyard cherubs and 17th century sailors burns in my brain still today, along with images culled from a clip from an indie short film, 'We Have Decided Not To Die'. Ian sang the song with a particular passion and emphasis. It was supurb.
And then it was over. The crowd roared their approval as the band exited the stage. “Wow” was heard all round.
I will not bitch a word about the setlist (a copy of which is right here next to me).
There was a message attached to each selection:
‘Electric Ocean’ reminded us that we had just experienced an ‘ocean of Love’ and that this was ‘the place to be’. And it was.
‘Wildflower’ exclaimed that, indeed, Wolfchild was in the house, howlin’ for you.
‘Illuminated’ not only told me point-blank what I am, it also reminded me that ‘real’ Cult music is still being made and that, hopefully, more will be revealed.
‘Rise’ was justification and encouragement to travel from wherever you are to see these shows. “We are not chained to the wheel”. “It’s the way that you feel. It’s the truth in your eye.”
‘Fire Woman’ because the Cult’s biggest hit has to come out – the song that everybody in the house knows.
‘Dirty Little Rockstar’ - to salute the rhythm section of the band with a song they did together. Wyse, Tempesta and Dimkitch did a hell of a job in backup. Bravo.
And ‘Love Removal Machine’. They brought the Love. Blew my mind. Upside down, psychotic reaction. “Talk about Love”.
If you are a Cult fan – truly a Cult fan – you must get to one of these 'Love Live' shows. This show will sit among the top shows I have ever been witness to and reminds me why I love this music so much. Yeah. I’m a Cult fan. CFFC.