Vancouver, British Columbia, The Orpheum
Opening Band: The Cliks
What a day!
To recount it all, well, here goes.
As many of you know, I have quite the commute to get to Vancouver. Driving on the island, a ferry
boat ride and a bus on the mainland. I left my house around 8:00am and was downtown around noon.
Ate some food and messed around for a while before heading out to the Orpheum. I got there around
3:30 as it was requested that I talk to the tour manager before the show to check out the soundcheck.
I met him and he said that soundcheck would be 5:30 and I should return then. No problem, I was
with a buddy so we went to a local bike shop to look around. As we were looking, Mike & John walked
in and started checking out the bikes too. We didn't stick around too long and didn't really want
to interrupt them too much so we finished our business and popped out to a pub for a drink.
5:30 rolled around and we went back to the Orpheum. The tour manager chatted with us a bit and
mentioned he had something for me from Billy. Cool! Anyways, he took off for a while and left us
standing off to the right of the stage. At this time the Cliks were setting stuff up and their
rhythm guitarist walked by and borrowed a quarter to use the phone. She only had US change.
Eventually, the tour manager came up from downstairs and asked if I was expecting something from
Billy. I said that I thought so and he handed me a jacket. Very similar to the one Ian wears in
the Irving Plaza DVD. Cool, I tried it on and it fit well. We were invited to stick around and
watch the soundcheck.
We stayed off the side of the stage for a while as people were setting up and Ian walked in
quickly. He looked at the jacket, said "nice jacket" to which I thanked him and then he walked
down to the dressing rooms.
As we're milling about Billy walks in from outside, followed by somebody else holding a Dreamtime
LP. He takes one look at me and I introduce myself. He says "I see you got the jacket already,
you're pretty clever" and I thanked him for it. He looked at it on me and we chatted for a bit.
The person with the Dreamtime album asked for an autograph, and while he was doing that I asked
for one for my The Cult CD that I had on me. He obliged and then wanted to autograph the jacket,
too. He wrote inside the jacket "A gift from Billy Duffy". Very cool.
He said we should stick around for soundcheck. He said there would be no singing but it would
be good. Then he went downstairs to get changed. A short time later Ian walked through again,
this time carrying an accoustic guitar strumming it a little. Playing bits and pieces of Holy
Mountain. Ian dissappeared into a back room and the tour manager came out again. He was followed
by the bands manager, Tom Vitorino. He introduced me to Tom and Tom mentioned that he wanted to
talk to me. We followed him back to his office on the other side of the stage as the soundcheck
was happening.
In Tom's office we talked a lot about the future of music and the Cult in particular. He was talking
about the next album and how they wanted to release it. We talked about different strategies
such as what Nine Inch Nails had done and he mentioned that he wants to see a vinyl release.
Very cool, I would like that, too!! Then he said he had something for me and grabbed a black box
and asked me if I knew what it was. I had heard about these black boxes from the Seattle &
Portland shows, so I was aware that it was a backstage pass and a USB flash drive with some
Cult multimedia on it. He said he wanted me to have it. Again, very cool!! We chatted some more
and I asked if I could bring my camera into the show. He said there was no problem, but offered
me and my buddy a press pass just in case. Awesome.
It was getting a bit later and we were a bit thirsty so we left (soundcheck was done by the time
we were finished with Tom) and went to get some water. We got back to the venue as it was opening and
went in. Security was non-existant. My friend had a bottle of water and they let him in but told him
he'd have to finish it before he got to his seat. I spoke with somebody that was at the Portland
show and they mentioned they had to go through a metal detector. I just said we're much more
laid back in Canada.
On to the show. The Cliks opened. They were enjoyable. I had only heard one of their songs, previously,
but though their set was pretty good. They commented on the quiet crowd and how they were pleased
to play the Orpheum Library. They were very good natured about it all.
After a short wait on came the opening music and everybody stood up for the Cult. Opening with
Spiritwalker I thought was great, but the crowd really got more excited on the second song Rain.
The setlist was everything I wanted, a couple songs I really enjoy live are The Phoenix and
The Witch. I was hoping for as much from Born Into This as possible, and in the end they played
five songs. Holy Mountain after the encore was incredibly emotional. The Burma video in the break
was also emotional to see. I had not seen the YouTube version, although I knew it was out there.
The highlights for me were The Phoenix, The Witch, Gone, Holy Mountain and Illuminated.
There was a lot of comments from the stage regarding the sound quality in the theatre. From the
audience, I thought it was incredible. I think the way the theatre is designed it makes it very
quiet on stage with the sound pushed out to the audience. The band probably don't play in such
good quality venues as most rock shows are pushed to night clubs or stadiums. It was nice to experience
it, that is for sure.
After the show ended we went to the merchandise booth. The folks that bought the black box were
told to wait at the merchandise booth to get to the after show meet & greet. We went there also
as it seemed like the logical place to go. Met a few others who had the box and chatted briefly
about the show before we were escorted back to the theatre and around to the elevator.
Upstairs in the venue there were about 30 people or so waiting to meet the band. Friends of the
band and a few fans. Mike & Chris were the first to show up and chatted with people. Billy
appeared shortly thereafter and seemed to be the centre of attention for quite some time. I think
he was telling some good stories as he had lots of people around him as he was talking. Ian
came out a little while later, obviously limping. He chatted with some of his friends first, then
took a seat and ate some fruit. I was able to get photos and autographs and then called it a
night.
All in all it was one of the best concert experiences I've had. I felt like a VIP, got to meet
some very interesting people and was pleased by every aspect of the show. It was a great time!
Jon Taylor
My last review was a 1993 Metallica / Cult show in Athens Greece, so here I am again. Just got back from
the Vancouver show. Must have been my 7th time seeing them. The Orpheum wasn't too bad, the crowd had
lots of energy especially for the older songs. Everyone performed awesome. I like the Mike Dmitich guy,
who plays rythym guitar, he seemed somewhat out of place, ( almost belonging to a band like Red HoT Chilli
Peppers). Great to see the Cult again, can't wait for the next show.
During the encore intermission they played a recording of Tiger in the Sun while showing a film of the
chaos and war in Tibet and Burma. I think this is the best song on the new album.
Manos
Well - what can I say. Fantastic to see the Cult. BUT - I have mixed
opinions of this show.
-Enter Diehard Cult Fan warning here.......they are my favourite band
- they have been so for over 18 years......so what I say, I say in
honesty.
When I caught them two years ago, they were obviously in a good
working mind set (one that spawned Born Into This), and I left with a
positive feeling about them. Not so much after tonight. Billy's sound
was awful, and worse still, he knew it, so he was stomping around
stage in a foul mood. There seemed to be the classic post-hiatus Cult
division on stage again, where Billy interacts with Dimkitch and Wyse,
but almost everyone stays out of Ian's way. Lame. Have fun for gawd
sakes. I am also starting to wear thin on the Cult's feeling that they
demand the crowd to get pumped. I pay money to see you....pump me up -
thats how it works. The Orpheum - not a good Cult venue. Fixed seating
just doesn't work.
OK, that being said - the set was good despite sound troubles.
Something I never expected to see was Ian come out with an acoustic
and play solo the melow tune from the new album. I was also sceptical
of hearing that Illuminated had been selected as the next single, when
you have nuggets like Savages on the album. Hearing it live, changed
my opinion - it was tight.
OK, another mindless observation from last night - every classic Cult
song sounded so TIGHT. The new stuff, it was like the sound guy died
or something...on every new song (except Illuminated) the sound was
total crap. Savages - ruined by bad sound - DLRS ruined by bad sound.
I was happy to hear some rarer songs - Horse Nation and a few others.
With as bassist like Chris Wyse on board, me thinks its time to bust
out Reserection Joe. How about some new old ones- Medicine Train?
Star? Earth Mofo? And lastly, dropping Peace Dog and playing Gone -
not the best move IMHO.
Two points to note - first of all - to the drunk guy who said to me in
the urinal "the Cult - like who has heard a thing from them in 15
years?" Get your head out of your.....
And to the guy in the balcony who kept requesting Doors songs and
calling Ian -Jim - get your head out of your........
OK - I love the Cult - this is my 12th show. Not my favorite - thats
all I am saying. This tour is still a worthwhile tour to check out -
especially since I think it might be the last in a while.
Vince
Setlist:
Spiritwalker
Rain
Electric Ocean
I Assassin
The Witch
Savages
Gone
The Phoenix
Edie (Ciao Baby)
Sweet Soul Sister
Wild Flower
Horse Nation
Rise
Dirty Little Rockstar
She Sells Sanctuary
Encore:
Holy Mountain
Illuminated
Fire Woman
Love Removal Machine