The Cult - 9:30 Club, Nov 21/2001
Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
Opening Band: Combination Lock
Fantastic show. Super tight set. Incredible energy. It has been many years since I last saw the band live - they sound better than ever. Opened set with Rise - great choice to get the crowd going. Great venue for the band to connect with the crowd. Really enjoyed it.

Stephen
What a great show! I got to see Tammy again and go to finally meet Natalie (SorumRocks)! We waited for about four hours (all worth it since we'd all be front row). While waiting we saw Billy M and Matt walking around. Matt walked across the street and peered into a thrift shop and then came back. He was so cool. He kept saying that Nat is his biggest fan. What a sweet guy! We finally get in and the opening band comes in forty five minutes later. They weren't bad. The singer said he felt privileged to be opening for the Cult and he is damn right! So they played for about forty five minutes. About forty minutes after that, the CULT came out!! I was so excited. This show went by really quickly. They went from one song to the next. They came out and did Rise. The set list has been the same so far as the other dates--no surprises. Ian was a lot less talkative but he seemed pleased. The whole band did. Duffy was playing superbly. He is amazing! Someone behind me kept chanting "Duffy is GOD!" Billy M cracked a lot of smiles and so did Billy Duffy, sticking out his tongue at Natalie and looking pleased. Some security guard tried to stop Nat from taking pics, but once again, Ian to the rescue making an announcement that the band didn't mind if we took photographs. He pretty much indicated that in the world of chaos that we live in today, what harm does a photograph do? I love how Ian is always an advocate for the fans. This show was played SO well. I had such a great time. Tammy and Natalie and I were bouncing around the whole time, screaming and enjoying ourselves. This was my fourth show and I was so excited. I had been crushed that they cancelled the Pittsburgh show opening for Aerosmith, so this was my last chance. I met lots of great fans and got to see people from the July show. After they played True Believers Ian said that the single would be released in January and that they couldn't do it now because of Michael Jackson. In response, the crowd booed (myself included). After the last song Ian always says that if we want to hear more to let them know. Well, this crowd responded with an enthusiastic howl of affirmation. The band was in such a great mood. Ian said the audience was incredible. Cult shows make me feel so great. All my cares dissipate and I feel alive. They played an amazing show. Matt even did a little drum solo. Billy was jamming and adding some extra little riffs. He raised his arm a couple of times like the Sonic Temple cover. At the end of the show, Billy D threw out a bunch of guitar pics. I didn't really think I catch one. But a bunch of us spotted some on the floor and BEGGED the security gaurd for them. He basically made us beg and then finally gave them to us. I got a cool white one that says "Billy" on it with a Sonic Temple cross and on the front it says The Cult.

After the show we waited for whoever would come out. I brought my early master copy of BG&E that I won from the record company. Billy Morrison came out a little bit later and asked what it was. I told him I won it in a contest and he seemed impressed. So he signed the CD itself. Later I went to him and got a picture. He had been impressed by this one guys large nest of an afro and pulled the guy into our picture! Tammy said noted that I don't know that guy and Billy said, "Yeah, but he has cool hair!" So after the pic I said, "why can't I have cool hair?!" and so he posed for a pic with just me! He's so cool! Then, we told him a bunch of us were from the Cultnet's message board and asked if he would take a pic with us and he said, "sure! anything for the board!" I was really impressed with him. He seemed really interested in the fans. Then I see Billy Duffy holding the hand of a girl who was half his age (who also didn't look too thrilled) and went on the bus with her with a big grin on his face. The first show I went to in '99 I didn't wait to meet the band, and this was my fourth show and I waited three time for them and never did he come out to sign stuff. The tour manager took stuff onto the bus for signatures. So I got my CD signed. Then I go over to the other side of the street and Matt is standing there. He is wearing his Russian army coat and being so friendly. He signed my CD too. I saw him posing with SuperPuffin's Russian hat, it was SO funny! He was so sweet. I asked for a photo and of course he said sure! We waited for Ian but when he came out he made a beeline for the other side of the street, return with a scarf over most of his face and some food (like we didn't know it was him!) He didn't come back out, so we left. I was happy anyway. I bet Ian was so tired. I am so glad I got to see Alan and Gina, to meet American Gothic, Stinger, and of course, to meet Natalie and to see my beloved Tammy! We got back at 4:30AM where I promptly hit the sack. What a fantastic show! THANK YOU GUYS for making my life so so so so so much better.

Setlist
Rise
Lil' Devil
Peace Dog
Rain
American Gothic
Take The Power
Edie (Ciao Baby)
The Witch
Ashes and Ghosts
Sweet Soul Sister
True Believers
Wild Flower
Fire Woman
She Sells Sanctuary
Encore
War
Sun King
Love Removal Machine