All I have to say is Ian and the boys put on an amazing show!!! The sounded incredible. They are still the best band in the world!!! Every song they played had me in a frenzy!! I couldn't sit here and put into words how good that show was.

Jeremy Guthrie - JGUTHRIE@CHX.COM

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The little venue was packed on Friday night for the House of Blues Chicago club show. Stabbing Westward and Monster Magnet both sounded great, along with a new band called Bird 3. By the time The Cult finally got onstage and ripped into Rise, the crowd was wild. I think the show could've been longer, but maybe that's just because it's been my lifelong dream to see them live. The entire band was in tip-top shape, though Ian looked like he was nervously eyeing the crowd during the first song. I managed to get one of the setlists after the show. It was great! Ian was such the rock star with his dancing and wild tambourine shakes. I didn't get a chance to see the second Chicago show at Congress Theater, which is a much bigger venue, but I'm glad that the one I saw was the club show because of its intimate setting. I can't wait til the next time they're in Chicago, and maybe next time I'll try to find the stage door so I can meet the band afterwards.

Friday night's sold out show at the House of Blues was an aural smorgesbord of one crunchy musical biscuit after another. Apparently, there was an opening act that we missed (I don't know the name). Stabbing Westward played a short set (punctuated by the lead singer complaining that the Cult had asked them to drop one song from their set list). They were okay, but all looked like they had spent way too much time at the hair salon. Monster Magnet was the antithesis of Stabbing Westward's poseur chic -- unruly, decidedly politcally incorrect, scruffy and LOUD. The music was good, the ranting, maniacal craziness of the lead singer was great. And as for the headliners, well, they had their "A game" on. The set list was basically the same as on previous dates (although they changed the order a bit). The band was very spirited and happy. At one point, a fan up front held up a poster right in front of Ian, who started laughing like crazy. He ran to both Billy and Matt to point out the poster. He then grabbed it and showed it to the crowd - it was a very old cheesy promotional shot of Matt wearing a pastel colored vest and tie, smiling next to a drum kit. Later in the show, Billy was swinging the arm of his axe just barely over the head of an unknowing security guy standing in front of the stage, coming as close as he possibly could without decapitating the guy. Musical highlights, for me, were The Saint (made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up), Sweet Soul Sister, and Love Removal Machine. The band was tight, happy, and the crowd was extremely into it. I was happy to see a decent mix of both "old school" fans and younger kids into the next stuff. A great show and a great time (and hopefully my ears will stop ringing someday soon).

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