The typical love-album-sound was great, especially in this little theatre and I and my friends had a great evening.
Hopefully you come back some day to Holland.
Good luck,
Tuesday we accepted Billy's invitation in Amsterdam from Sunday and drove to Eindhoven, a city in the south of the Netherlands. From where we live the distance to Eindhoven is 125 miles. With roadworks and congestion in Holland these days we decided to leave early. It took us 2 hours and 45 minutes before we could park the car opposite the concert hall called 'Effenaar'.
At the box office we bought two tickets at 40 euro each and as we had plenty of time we walked into the city centre for some sightseeing. It was a beautiful, sunny day which was perfectly suited for touristic activities.
We drank cappucino, ordered two Guinness in an Irish pub and enjoyed a good meal in an Indonesian restaurant.
At 8.30 we walked back to the concert hall and noticed a lot of people gathering at the front doors. Half of them were smokers who wanted to take a breath of fresh air along with their last cigarette before entering the hall.
When we slowly entered the building we saw notes on the glass inside-doors saying the support act unfortunately had to cancel their gig and start time of The Cult was 9.00. We were delighted.
The concert hall in the Effenaar is located on the second floor of the building and when you've walked the stairs you suddenly find yourself in the middle of the floor and in the middle of the audience!
To our surprise the place was already packed. With a lot of effort we succeeded in finding a spot near the front at Billy's side. People kept coming to our side and within ten minutes their wasn't an empty square foot left.
The capacity of the Effenaar is 1300 people and it would be better for our comfort and security if they limited the capacity to, let's say, 1000 people. This wasn't funny anymore.
At 9.00 the band didn't start, but ten minutes later the lights went down, the intro tape started and the eyes of the Indian were on the video screen. I noticed that the images on the video screen were sent through a standard beamer hanging on the ceiling of the hall.
From the moment Ian's voice joined the instruments in Nirvana it was clear his voice was in better shape than two days earlier in Amsterdam. The overall sound was better too than in Amsterdam and it stayed that way the whole concert. The Heineken Music Hall is boasting it has the best acoustics in the whole of Europe, but this is definitely not true. The acoustics in the Effenaar are better.
After the first three songs Ian was addressing the audience for the first time. To my surprise he said: 'Feel sick but you guys can help us out'.
During the rest of the concert he drank a lot of water and didn't say much between the songs. It was obvious he had a cold, but this cold had a remarkable effect on his vocals. It improved his vocals, maybe helped by the great soundmix tonight.
The crowd didn't go wild during the show, except a few pogoers in the middle during She Sells Sanctuary.
Ian said: 'You're quit' and some time later: 'You guys think to much, you'd better let the music fill your minds'.
The music surely filled our minds, but it seemed most of the audience used the show as an excuse for a lot of drinking and a lot of talking. Very annoying for us serious Cult fans.
Of course they played the standard setlist of this tour, but it was a great show, even better than in Amsterdam.
Then it was time for the last song Love Removal Machine.
When Ian said: 'We have one more song for you', a guy standing about 6 yards right in front of Ian threw a full glass of beer at him'. Ian then said: 'With people starving in the world you have the money to throw beer at me. You show disrespect and we ought to stop right now. I am sick but we do our fucking thing, we always do our fucking thing.'
He added: 'I have a 14 year old kid who doesn't do a thing like that and knows what respect is'.
Despite Ian's very bad mood now the band played a glorious version of Love Removal Machine.
After the band introduction at the end of the show another guy threw beer at Billy's back as Billy was leaving the stage.
After these incidents I'm sure The Cult will never play the Effenaar again. This is a pity for the good willing people of the Effenaar, who succeeded in booking the band, and for the true Cult fans in Eindhoven.
On our way back home we had a lot to talk about and with the music of the Cult playing in the car and with no congestion on the road, it was a smooth trip which lasted only one hour and 45 minutes.
In total we drove 4 and a half hours to attend a 1 and a half hour Cult show, but it was worth it.
It was a great show! But Amsterdam was better in my opinion
And EHHh it wasn't me throwing the beer
Billy turned around and said ;"Son of a bitch"
To the one who throwed,but, looked at me... GRRRR
Also Ian was not so pleased ,with that beerthrowing thing at him! and also looked at me....GRRRR
Dearest Ian and Billy
The only thing I should throw at you guys, is a bunch of wild flowers!
And indeed, about 2 hours drive,but it was worth it!!!!!!!
Take a well deserved rest, get well and I hope you come back again (and rather not, EFFENAAR)
LOVE Mandy CFFC