The Cult - Rita's Little Uptown, May 15/2001
Wichita, Kansas, Rita's Little Uptown
WOW!!! Admittedly I am a Cult nuebile and am ashamed to admit I really only know Fire Woman and the new Rise song. I have grown into a fan of live music in my 20's and decided to see The Cult without any preconcieved notions or expectation. They worked their asses off in for the good people of Wichita, Kansas and created a crashing wall of sound to rival any Metallica or Smashing Pumpkins concert I've ever been to. I wish I could tell you what they were playing but I haven't a clue I just know it all rocked. If you are looking for the return of unapologetic rock with beautiful harmonyies, sonic depth beyond the downtuned seven string power chord clones look no further my friends then The Cult. I was simply blown away. A good drummer can make or break a band and Matt layed a solid foundation for that Billy took off with. He is really a soulful player and played the part of a guitar god very well. The bass guitarist and second rhythm guy were solid and really helped fill the place with a thick blanket of sound, but didn't muddle up the atmosphere. They also kept toying with the crowd and there was a great repoire between the stage and the entire audience. I will start stocking my CD shelf immediately. Later

Matt - ruanid10t@hotmail.com


As for the band, Ian was the best I had ever seen him. Great presence, voice and very much in command. Everyone else was solid but clearly not as "into it". The place was very cool with capacity of around 1500. There was probably around 1200 total and most were either drunk and/or leaving after Fire Woman. This was a crappy crowd at best and I admire the guys putting on a fine performance for this below average collection of God knows what. The setlist was typical with the unfortunate dropping of The Saint. Bottom line: Great music, less that great audience.

Jay
Awesome, Outstanding! Out of three times I have seen the Cult this was the best-don't worry the Cult are good live as they always have been and songs from the new album sound promising. Among my favorites done live - The Witch, Peace Dog, and Love Removal Machine. To the best of my knowledge no songs from Dreamtime, Ceremony or Cult albums were done.

Hmmmmm, where to begin? OK, how's 'bout at the beginning. Got there about 3pm that afternoon and went up to the venue. I decided that I would hang towards the back of the club to get an idea of how the crowd would be reacting to the music. The place was set up like a honky tonk with a medium size stage, wide dance floor and a low ceiling. There were about 1200 in attendence. The place holds about 2000 as I was told by one of the local guys working security that night. Alright then, on with the show. The band came out to a load roar from the crowd, and after the intro jumped into Rise. The crowd at first didn't react to it. I think they were expecting some "old school" material instead. After about 2 or 3 more songs, the crowd finally got into the groove of things and started to jump and scream. It took a little coaxing and banter from Ian with the crowd to get the ball rolling. I could tell by the way the guys were playing that things had cleared a little from the Dallas show. Ian wants reaction from the crowd and not just have them standing there tapping their feet, ya know? The band is getting tighter with the music. I can tell. It was a little distorted in the back, but this was probably due to the low ceiling which spanned the enite length of the club. Gotta give T-Bone credit for managing the sound board in such a small venue. I noticed towards the middle of the setlist that many who were in the back of the club started to gravitate towards the front. The band played the new songs, but it was the old songs that got the club rock'in. It will be great when the album comes out, then radio stations can play more than just the "old school' material. The band's music has evolved and shows refinement (kudos to Bob Rock). Response from the crowd was mixed, but I could tell the guys were having fun on stage regardless. As far as the crowd, there were maybe a third CULT faithful and the remaining two-thirds came to check things out. I stood outside the doorway after the show and the responses I heard from those leaving were very positive about the band and the music. On to Columbia, Mo., for tomorrow night. By the way, I initiated Mike from Toronto, who is a truck driver, into TCCP. He was in the area and heard about the band playing in Wichita on the radio and stopped by to catch the gig. He's been a life-long fan and was excited that he was nearby to see them. It's a CULT world CULT Children!!!

Chuck 7 Eagles
I saw the Cult for the first time last Tuesday, May 15th, at a downtown club called Rita's Little Uptown. I was one of the first people in line, and I saw the whole concert from right in front of Ian. Ian was fantastic, he was wearing pretty much the same clothes as on the (beyond good & evil poster), but he had a bandanna on. He was great fun, joking and talking to the crowd a lot I was expecting a great show, but nothing like this, Billy Duffy was cool too, he used a beige Les Paul except on She Sell Sanctuary, where he played a Gretsch guitar like George Harrison use to. They played Love Removal Machine, Sweet Soul Sister, Peace Dog, Wild Flower, Fire Woman, She Sells Sanctuary amonth others. The only thing I would have liked to some songs from their last album, the Cult.

Richard Preston - wichitawings@netscape.net
I've been waiting to see them live since highschool (85)....avoiding any well though out and articulate post..they rocked! What else can I say? It was The Cult that I always wanted to see. Started right of with Rise and went on to play a lot of the old stuff. Nothing from Southern Death Cult but quite a few good ones from Love. The band sounded tight and their attitude was very cool. It was not quite sold out and as far as the crowd I could not ell because I was on the front row and could have given a shit less what was going on behind me. Either way I was not in the lest bit dissapointed. I got some cool autographs from the band on a flyer for the KC show. Bottom line, as I true lifelong Cult fan, I was more than hppy to be reprimanded at work for taking off to see the show. That was a first and there has been ones off other shows rolling through here. I hope they come back and hope that everyone who likes them as much as me gets to see them. Later and thanks to the band if they read this shit.

Setlist
Rise
In The Clouds
Lil' Devil
Peace Dog
Rain
Edie (Ciao Baby)
The Witch
Breathe
The Saint
Fire Woman
Sweet Soul Sister
Wild Flower
She Sells Sanctuary
Encore
War
Nirvana
Love Removal Machine