Another awsome Cult gig - the second I've seen this year (also went to the Whiskey-a-go-go show 2 weeks ago). Both the crowd and the band were really into it. Ian gave an incediary performance and constantly admonished the crowd to "Do what you like. It's your party, you paid for it!" Billy was in great form as was Matt. They played the same setlist as the Whisky which included Rise, War, Take The Power, The Saint, Breathe, Lil' Devil, Wild Flower, Peace Dog, Rain, She Sells Sanctuary, Fire Woman, Sweet Soul Sister, Edie (Ciao Baby), and Love Removal Machine. What an evening!! C an't wait to see them in Anaheim & LA in August! Peace

Rob - jaqdripper@aol.com

---

I had expected more fans in a place that holds only 4000, but what can you say--at least SOME of those in attendance were into it. Hopefully they don't pass us by next time. We were informed by a flier posted at the front entrance that Stabbing Westward would not be playing--no explanation. Opening band was called BIRD--they were from LA, reminded me of Hum until their last song which sounded very Green Dayish. The singer/guitarist wears this angel wing getup. I thought they were decent, they also mentioned they would be on tour for a few days at least, so some member of Stabbing must be ill or something. Monster Magnet rocked, they put on a good show--LOUD. OK--the boys opened with Rise, and went from there with the standard setlist they have been playing for a while now. I was able to get a great spot about 3 rows from the barrier between Ian and Billy. All instruments sounded great, Ian's voice was especially good--hitting all the notes! It was a rough night for Billy Morrison--Ian was swinging his mic often, and at the end of Peace Dog he popped Billy right in the mouth! Billy doubles over, Ian comments that he "thinks he just killed his bass player." Billy hangs in there, though, dabbing it with a towel and playing on. He also broke a string during Fire Woman which got tangled and was difficult for him to rip off. Billy's tough, he stayed with it. I guess some chump was flipping Ian off because between songs at one point Ian engaged him and basically said that he wouldn't escalate the situation and that "you love it, man, why else would you be here??" The show was excellent, all the songs sounded great--the guys play very tight. Great experience to see them again. Like I mentioned, my only disappointments were the size of the crowd and the same setlist (bring back Earth Mofo!)...I guess that is why they play so tightly! Regardless, do NOT miss the boys on tour--incredible!

Scott Reeves - pacificav@hotmail.com

---

This was my fourth time seeing the Cult and I was very excited to hear the new stuff and also I have been reading all the great reviews from the latest shows. I have been a Cult fan for a long,long time. This was my first time at the Memorial Auditorium and it is a nice place to see a show. Stabbing Westward did not appear and I missed their replacement. Monster Magnet was great but the place was pretty empty when they were playing. When the Cult came on the place was about half full which was really disappointing. Hopefully more people will head out to see them. The show had all kinds of crazy stuff, from Ian hitting the bass player in the mouth with his mic to Ian tripping over a speaker and almost falling down. (Who put that there? said Ian). The new songs (War, Rise, The Saint, Breathe) were really good and I wanted to hear more from the new album. The classics were great to but I agree with other people that Fire Woman should be dropped.

Peace Dog was really cool. The people that were there were really into it which made up for it not being a sell out. Ian also gave away a tambourine to a small girl sitting across the barrier which was pretty cool. It seemed that Ian wanted to walk the stage more and get closer to the crown but the mic cord was giving him trouble. I was up front when he came down once and he slapped hands with the crowd. All in all it was a great show and I plan on seeing them again in August in San Francisco.

Damn good show. Really, extreemly freaken loud!!! I love it when you can feel it as much as hear it! The opening groups gave my friends and I a good laugh. Typical "Look at me everyone, I'm a rock star!" ego. They were good musicians, but their music had no real spirit and the lyrics were empty. The Cult did as I was hoping, came on strong and plowed us with there hard driving music. They were having trouble with feedback when Ian would move on the sides of the stage. The backup singing mics weren't up enough either. Ian was disappointed with how mellow the Sacramento audience was. He tried hard to get them to let out their inner bear, but it would only happen for a brief moment. Looks like Sacramento is still on the dull side. My only disappointment was they didn't play anything off of Ceremony. I though for sure they would have played Wild Hearted Son. Over-all we had a great time and The Cult still kicks ass!!!

Being only 21, I was introduced to the CULT only a few years ago and immediately fell in love with the raw power. Since my favorite band is AC/DC, the power-chord-type riffs of Wild Flower and others really clicked with me. Anyway, I saw the Reno show on the 14th but was a little too "out-of-it" to be able to appreciate the show. Stabbing Westward was descent but did give off a sense of "too good to care." When I went to the show in Sacramento, there was a posted sign saying SW wasn't even appearing. Can't quite figure them out. Anyway, I was disapointed about the audience turnout at both shows. Especially since rock is back with a vengence. Reno was small (understandable) but Sacramento was in-excusable. There were hardly anybody there. I felt bad, like I was embarrased in my own hometown. I mean what must Ian and the boys think? They get my full respect, however, for coming out and blowing everyone away considering the circumstances. It's not like they were playing a venue like the Whisky where the place can only fit 300. The memorial can hold about 4,000! And when only 1,000 show, it looks sad. I even provoked two of my freinds to tag along who don't care for rock at all. They like rap. Well, I informed them that live shows, regardless of who is playing, are one of the most incredible things to experience. I mean how awesome is feeling the bass and drums pound through your chest?!? I must say that after the show my "rap-loving" friends honestly turned to me and said they loved the CULT. They said they loved the energy and loudness (the concert was EXTREMELY LOUD!!!!) and how the lighting reacted to Ian jumping around the stage! I was so happy to hear that. I love how Ian and the boys keep such high spirits and energy at a time when everyone thinks this kind of rock is dying out. I think the CULT is the best kind out rock. You can ACTUALLY hear the chords being played along with awesome vocals,...none of this screaming shit with droped D strings while everything sounds the same like "COLD" and those other bullshit bands. All in all, an awesome concert and my love to the band. They FUCKING ROCKED!!!!!!! Thanks CULT!!!!

This was my first Cult show that I have ever seen, even though I have been a fan since She Sells Sanctuary was popular in the 80's. Anyways, what made it really cool was that I won tickets to the show on the radio that also included a special Meet and Greet party at the Hard Rock Cafe a few hours before the show. That also included a live interview with one of the DJ's from the station and also included dinner. We got to have pictures autographed and also had our pics taken with them. That was a once in life time experience for me. Especially since Matt flirted with me, which was cool even though I never cared what they look like, I just love their music. As for the show, it rocked beyond belief and I was in the very front, because of course there is no where else a true fan Cult fan should be but the front. And there was a few out of control freaks that made it kind of dangerous a couple of times. [me being a girl and only 5'5"] But there were some big tall guys protecting me from those losers. I am a little disappointed that they didn't play not one song from Ceremony. But every other song had the intensity that we all expected and we all rocked hard. It was fun chatting with all of the other die hard Cult fans surrounding me in the front rows. By the end of the night we were like old friends. It was an unforgetable night! Especially meeting the Cult.

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
War
Nirvana
Love Removal Machine