The lineup has been in tact for the past 6 years and is the most solid one they have ever had. Consummate professional rock stars might sound like an oxymoron but it describes Astbury and Duffy to a tee. They kick ass and do it with class. From the opening riff of Lil Devil, you are quickly reminded why this band is so easy to love. As much as their music makes you think and feel, it also makes you wanna rock out!
The Phoenix may not be the best sounding venue I've seen them in but as Ian put it, "This shithole's got soul!" Astubury's voice seems to have gotten better with age as he sounded fantastic. He was in a great mood engaging the audience at every turn but always takes a moment or two to let his pet peeves be known - people filming the show with cell phones and security acting tough with people trying to enjoy themselves.
When material from Born Into This in past shows was played, the response was lack lustre but that was not the case this time. The 5 new songs that made the setlist were not only very well received but they just "fit" and the show didn't slow for a second.
In such an intimate setting, Astbury has a way of sharing his passion for the music with the audience that makes you feel like a part of the family. Duffy opted not to have a mic setup and only walked over to Chris' to harmonize on "Rain." Billy was all business but with several smiles as he unloaded a monster helping of tasty licks which again, included some sparkling solos from the new material.
Dimkich is super steady on rhythm, Wyse is ultra impressive on bass and Tempesta is an absolute heavyweight behind the kit! The amazing chemistry and vibe these guys produce solidifies The Cult as a live performance powerhouse not to be missed.
This Toronto show made me very happy to see that The Cult is not only back but better than ever.
CFFC!
Before delivering the first new song of the evening, Ian Astbury of veteran rock band The Cult addressed the crowd with this: "We have some new songs. We could have just holed ourselves up in our Beverly Hills mansions and relived our glory days on VH1. Fuck that!"
This performance at The Phoenix (an appropriate venue for the band and most effective when they blasted their way through their song of the same name half way through their set) was completely sold out. It wasn't until fifteen minutes before the band took the stage that I looked around to assess the evening's crowd. The mid-forties fellow beside me pretty much defined the majority - rocking the tattered Ed Hardy shirt with shaggy sideburns and a pulled back pseudo ponytail, sunglasses, Birkenstocks, and the smell of a week's worth of fermented scotch emitting from his pores - basically, a total partier. He was among his brethren for this show, as the howling fans reached a deafening crescendo seconds before the Cult took the stage and blasted their way through 'Lil' Devil'.
Astbury, with his hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and his face largely obscured by heavy black sunglasses, took the stage wearing a jacket with a fluffy faux fur collar that almost looked like a boa. He was followed quickly by Billy Duffy wearing signature jeans and T-shirt, as he tore through 'Lil' Devil' on a Gretsch White Falcon guitar, an instrument that has almost become synonymous with Duffy over the years - playing the instrument face-out towards the audience with the neck held upwards in a classic vertical fashion. Joined onstage by Chris Wyse (bass), John Tempesta (drums) and Mike Dimkich (rhythm guitar) The Cult delivered a ninety minute set well worth the price of admission.
However, the evening wasn't without a few warts, as Duffy encountered a few issues with his instruments during the aforementioned 'Lil' Devil' and 'The Phoenix', the latter falling into a drum and bass solo for a lengthy period of time as Duffy motioned to his techs that his guitar wasn't performing properly. Astbury berated an audience member who seemed unhappy that the crowd was a bit too wild directly in front of the stage, and suggested he step to the back and watch the show from a less aggressive vantage point. He followed this by telling the crowd that this was a rock show and anyone not wanting to rock should step on out.
During 'Fire Woman', a young girl rose atop of the crowd and flashed her breasts at Astbury. He laughed heartily and tossed the cymbal he was bashing towards her.
At numerous times during the performance, Astbury mentioned that the band was 'back', which kind of bothered me. I understand that the crowds the band can draw right now are diminished from the glory days, as Astbury so aptly called them. But I'm of the opinion that the band and their musical relevance has never really gone away. Personally, I don't think of them as a band looking for a comeback, when I honestly believe they never left in the first place. I thought Beyond Good and Evil (2001) and Born into This (2007) were both solid albums, and I attended concerts supporting them both. I also took in the Love Live tour that hit Toronto’s Massey Hall in early 2010, which is likely the finest I have ever seen the band - primarily because they played in its entirety an album that I hold near and dear to my heart.
What was most important this evening was how nicely the material performed from the band's latest album, Choice of Weapon, mixed with the nuggets from years gone by. 'Honey from a Knife', 'The Wolf' and 'Embers' (a B-side from the latest album) all came off superbly live. I think the song of the evening was 'Rise' taken from their 2001 album Beyond Good and Evil. It seemed to have everything working in synchronization for the track’s duration. Astbury, free of his jacket, sunglasses and ponytail was banging his lengthy hair like a man half his age, as Duffy, Tempesta, Wyse and Dimkich brilliantly wrenched the pummelling tune out of their instruments.
Sure, the old stuff sounded cool. 'Wild Flower' and 'She Sells Sanctuary' were likely the two tracks most well received by the crowd, but for me, the evening hit it's apex at 'Rise', and from that point the concert just rode the wave with the five songs that followed it.
Regardless of whether you feel The Cult is striving for a comeback or not, they were indeed 'BACK' this evening… back in Toronto and back on stage functioning as a relevant rock band with a relevant album of choice new material. It is my hope that the band opt for a victory lap through North America on this Choice Of Weapon tour, allowing for another opportunity to see them perform live.