It's been 6 years since I have seen the Cult live. Show kicked off with Rise. The band seemed a bit unenergetic at first. I was afraid that this was not going to be one of their better shows. I was wrong. Ian was just as I remembered him. He was having a bit of a problem with the sound and was not hesitant to let the sound guy know it. After about three songs he finally got what he wanted. I can't remember the exact sequence of songs, but from the new album they played War (The Process), The Saint, Rise, Breathe, Take The Power, and My Bridges Burn. Ian stated that this was the first time they played My Bridges Burn live. It came across great. Ian seemed a bit disapointed at the audience response. At one point, he was trying to get the audience to jump up and down during a song. Eventually he gave up, calling the crowd "you lazy fuckers!" At the beginning of War (The Process) Ian stuck his mike out to a person on the front row so the person could sing the song. The person didn't know the words, and Ian called him "a fucking wanker" As far as the rest of the band, Duffy was his usual badass self. Billy Morrison has quite a stage presence. After the show, Ian was out on the street near the tour bus with his kids and an extremely lovely latin looking lady. I approached him and asked for his autograph. He seemed a bit hesitant at first, but then he shook my hand and began telling me how his son broke his arm on his skateboard. I of course was starstruck and could barely get a word out of my mouth. Great experience!
We are joined in Austin by some journalists from the UK that will travel on the bus with us for a couple of days, and the journey from Corpus to Austin is a chance to get to know them. Billy does an interview in the back lounge, and I sit up front playing cards...Oh god, the excitement is killing me!!! You have to understand how living on a bus can get to you - a game of cards actually becoming the highlight of my journey makes me worry about myself!! I’m feeling a bit low today - maybe I’m going down with the flu or something. So I retire to my bunk to lie around, feeling sick and sorry for myself. But we arrive at the venue (which is a very cool open air venue, kinda like a western type scene) and our new "A" list monitor guy is on the stage, working away already...within five minutes of soundchecking, my onstage mix is a million times better than it has been in the last month. I get a B12 shot from the doctor and I start feeling better and very positive about tonights show. And I am not disappointed. The crowd tonight is on fire, one of the noisiest, loudest audiences we’ve had on the tour. From Rise to She Sells Sanctuary, they are jumping, singing and giving us the energy that we feed on. Tonight, we play My Bridges Burn, from the new album for the first time. I love the song and it goes over really well. Its nice to have a new one to play, and maybe we’ll get a few more 'alternatives' to have in reserve - who knows??!! Anyway, it’s a cool show in Austin, and everyone is smiling as they leave. Onwards, troops...and to Dallas!!