Manchester, England, Carling Academy Manchester
Opening Band: Theatre Of Hate
The Weather was typically Mancunian, raining hard on the faithful queueing outside the
Academy for a good 40 minutes before doors but the banter was also typical, upbeat and
expectant of the show to come.
Theatre of Hate took to the stage on time, 8.00pm, and the old tunes were as good as I
remembered from my high school days with a good mosh pit slam dancing front stage centre.
Kirk Brandon looked good, time has treated him well with a song dedicated to Ian Astbury
because apparently he likes it, Craig Adams, ex Mission and Cult on bass was good to see
but of course the highlight, half expected, was the special guest guitarist on their
final track, Billy Duffy! The crowd went wild and he did the honours on 'Westworld' with
his usual trademark style, wearing a beanie hat, to rapturous applause.
The stage was set and after lots of guitar checks, the backing track began blasting out
to screams of anticipation and then they were there before us, at last after the months
of waiting! Opener Spirit Walker was an absolute joy to behold with Billy's excellent
guitar work, Ian's shrieking vocals with the band looking tight and relaxed and the crowd
went crazy with a follow up of Rain, rather apt tonight I think, but by now the atmosphere
was truly electric! Billy was experiencing some minor guitar problems which seems to be a
regular thing these days according to the other reviews I have read, but absolutely none
of the shine was taken off anything as we were all mad for it! Lil' Devil was next up and
the stomp was really underway now, arms aloft, sweat pouring, ribs aching, crushed on the
barrier at the front, stage right, my favourite spot, to catch every pose, windmill and
word from the Duffmeister, the best guitarist in the world, fact!
Other songs tonight, in no particlar order as I was too busy taking in the atmosphere,
moshing, taking photos and videos and generally having the best time ever included Electric
Ocean, I Assassin, Dirty Little Rock Star, an absolutely amazing Savages, Edie, Wildflower,
Sweet Soul Sister and Sun King.
I have Billy's Towel, thrown into the crowd mid set and caught by my brother at great risk to
life and limb as everyone within range launched themselves in our direction! Set closer tonight
was She Sells Sanctuary, performed with such sytle and power that it quite simply took your
breath away, especially as I had 2,000 Cult fans going absolutely crazy behind me!
A video of the Burmese monks protesting against their corrupt government (dictatorship)
played on the screen at the back of the stage as we eagerly anticipated the encore with Tiger
In The Sun playing in the background. The band are back on the stage now and Ian points out
that this was their 'political statement' for the night and urges that we think about what we
have just seen, hard not to really!
An encore of Firewoman, 'a love song turned on its head' in Ian's words and a blistering Love
Removal Machine follow. Billy thanking his family and jokingly all the other distant relatives
and school friends from the 70's who got in for free tonight and then us, the paying fans who
make this happen! The roof is straining at the rafters as the sonic onslaught comes to a
rapturous end with Billy Duffy, from Wythenshaw, Manchester, signing off and joking that he
had not mentioned the football result from tonight's match, as Man City had drawn 0 - 0 with
Wigan, and the guitar picks go into the crowd, my brother and I both collecting, my 10th for
the framed collection! Our heros leave the stage to a very well deserved rapturous applause!
Lights up and the carnage is revealed, the floor a sea of beer and sweat. Job done, the best
I can remember seeing the band play for a long time! My ears are ringing with joy from a night
that I will remember and re-run through my mind for a long time to come, thanks boys, you
really are the very best!
For Paul and Christian, blood forever! CFFC.
Adrian
The band were 20 minutes late coming on stage and from the outset something was wrong with
Astbury. He seemed disconnected and was vocally poor and this wasn't helped by a poor vocal
mix that made it difficult to hear him above the great band. After a paltry one hour five
minutes the show was over, except for the encore performances of 'Fire Woman' and 'Love Removal
Machine'. It will come as no surprise that a subdued crowd only came alive during the gig when
the band played the songs from the 'Love, Electric, Sonic Temple' era. The saving grace of the
whole evening was Billy Duffy. The man is an unsung guitar legend and played his socks off
last night, even though he appeared to be having a running argument with his guitar tech about
sound, especially noticeable during 'She Sells Sanctuary'. As a long standing fan; I first saw
them on the 'Electric' tour, I find it a crying shame that Astbury seems to have forgotten that
he is Ian Astbury of The Cult and not Jim Morrison. His whole stage act and 'look' is now that
of 'The Lizard King'. Please can we have Ian Astbury back, rather than have to endure 'Jim
Morrison sings The Cult'.
A disappointed fan.
Craig (UK)
Setlist:
Spiritwalker
Rain
Lil' Devil
I Assassin
Sun King
Electric Ocean
Edie (Ciao Baby)
Horse Nation
Savages
Sweet Soul Sister
Rise
Dirty Little Rockstar
Wild Flower
She Sells Sanctuary
Encore:
Fire Woman
Love Removal Machine