Orlando, Florida, Hard Rock Live
Headlining, Opening Band: Bangkok Five, Strays
My voice is gone and I am beat! WELL WORTH IT for THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW WITH THE CULT!
Steven
I just saw the Cult last evening at Hard Rock in Orlando. This was probably the best Cult
concert that I have personally seen. Ian and Billy did not disappoint. I took my 10 year
old Ian to his first concert and he too was blown away. He did not quite understand my
explanations of what to expect but he was memorized to say the least. Ian addressed him
two or three times in the concert acknowledging his young fan. They kicked ass and the
crowd was energetic. Ian sang great and Billy ripped. I was glad to hear some other songs
in the set list. Earth MoFo, Spirit Walker, Phoenix, Electric Ocean.
Aaron
My wife and I went to see the Cult last night at Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida. It
has been quite some time since I have seen them play. They were absolutely incredible.
I had forgotten how good Ian Astbury sounds live.
Keep up the good work.
Thank You,
Stephen Cason
I have seen the Cult four times now. Basically every time they have come to Orlando. They
are still my favorite all-time band. This was probably the best they have ever sounded.
Everybody was on point. This is the show, they should have recorded for the DVD instead
of the LA Show. It was awesome to here the acoustic version of Star and Edie. I love how
they are playing some of their deep cuts, ie. Electric Ocean and Wonderland. I can't wait
to see them again as I am sure they will tour again. The opening bands were allotted too
much time for a Sunday show. The only complaint was that it took an hour between the Bangkok
Five and the Cult. It wasn't the Cult's fault though. The f-ing techs couldn't get the
equipment working.
Bradley Jordan
CULT shows,., 1-2-3! Wow! What a weekend!
The magic was there,., the buildup to the shows,., got the tickets. YES!
3 hours early at the door to insure Front and Center each night. The people,., the real
fans,. The 'CULT Tribe', as our brother Chuck Seven Eagles coined us, out and feeling good.
The vibe and excitement of the conversations before the shows. Being as one with
like-spirited friends. The warm after-show glow. The guitar. The poetic messages. The
total body-mind-spirit re-charge that you cannot get (almost) anywhere else. The elation
of scoring Guest passes for the after-show party. Being face-to-face with Ian Astbury,.,
able to have him look you squarely in the eyes as you converse.
A CULT show is not a 'concert'.
A CULT show is an event. You 'get it' or you don't. Right?
I wanna tell you a story. Ride with me on this one guys?.
On Friday, I met CULT manager Tom V. in Saint Petersburg before the show. Great guy. Dressed
to the nines. Totally in charge.
On Saturday, I brought my fabulous girlfriend to the Pompano Beach show. We scored Guest
passes to hang out after the show. Ran into Tom again. I teased him about going from 3-piece
suit on Friday to denim jacket and jeans on Saturday. We chatted for a few moments and he
promoted the Bangcock Five to us. He asked my girl how she liked the show. She, being a
CULT fan, said she loved it,.,. wished that one day she could get a hold of one of Ian's
tambourines. Tom came back, without hesitation, 'Ask for me in Orlando tomorrow night and I'll
see what I can do'.
Sunday at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, the Florida Touring Tribe were sitting in the bar area
waiting for the doors to open. My gal and I walked in and were surrounded with this huge energy.
We just saw the sound check! The CULT played 'Horse Nation', 'King Contrary Man', 'Earth MOFO',
'Nirvana', 'Gone' and,.,. Dude,. They played 'Spanish Gold'!!.
Hot damn!
Had I not had the need to sleep an extra hour before the long Miami-Orlando drive, I'd have seen
& heard. I have a feeling that the filmed NYC show may be something really special.
The Hard Rock Live is what a concert hall should be. Grand and Glorious, bathed in gold
lights and neon. Except for the mile walk from Parking to arena. Great venue. Great sound.
Fresh, salty, cheesy nachos. Dark beer on tap. Nirvana.
Openers The Strays were ON again.
Their progressive-punk sound and energy deserves a listen from the record-buying public,., if
nu-punk is your cuppa tea.
I got a chance to talk to British lead singer / guitarist Toby Marriott, who is the son of the
late-great founder and singer-songwriter of Humble Pie, Steve Marriott. I told him I had seen
his dad play live, told of my love of LA punk rock and the Sunset Strip scene in the late 70's.
He wished he was there,., and told me that The Strays share rehearsal space with punk legends
the Circle Jerks.
I love their millennium version of traditional punk rock.
Check out their website: http://www.myspace.com/thestrays
The Bangcock 5. I hated them on Friday. I gave them a chance to impress me on Saturday. Loved
them on Sunday. I have always supported Indie bands,.., those bands who rely on their talent,
songs, and relentless touring and meeting people at the merchandise stand to get their names,
faces and music out to people. Bangcock Five, despite an obnoxious Iggy Pop-style front man,
fit this bill. Their songs are quite infectious really. Samples here:
http://www.thebangkokfive.com/ecard2006/
Before The CULT hits the stage on Sunday evening, Tom V walks across the stage and sees my girl
(tough girl to miss anyways?) and I at front-center. Huge smiles,.,.,.
The CULT. That says it all,.,, right?
CULT shows often depend on the mood Ian and Billy are in on any given evening. Saturday night,
full on,.., goosebumps, huge energy, sweat and emotion.
Sunday was not in that category at all due to several anarchy-through-alcohol-fueled asses who
pissed people off with crass antics,., those who don't wanna dance in a circle,., they want
to throw elbows. Security breaking up skirmishes. Ian distracted from delivering music and
love, calling those involved 'Losers' as they were being escorted out. Some jack hole who wanted
my front rail spot resorted to screaming in my ear, killing my buzz, causing me to react with
a handful of his shirt and a 3-step push backwards. That's a drag; someone wearing a CULT shirt
acting like that kind of a fool. I don't think he 'get's it'.
These minor distractions aside,.,. the CULT laid down another formula-laden set of pure CULT.
Highlights were 'The Witch' because Ian danced with such Morrison-esque abandonment onstage and
'Electric Ocean' for the tribal beat of John Tempesta's drumming. 'Stellar' is the word that
comes to mind.
No variation in the set list, only minor sound problems that kept Billy's glare at a minimum.
I did detect a bit of a limp from Bill as he exited the stage.
So anyways,.,., the show ends, the throng (2000 in a 3000 capacity venue) leave. Tom came outside
to search us out, invites us back in the arena, brings us backstage. Much to the delight of my
babe, and true to his word, he produced a new tambourine, introduces us to the hard-working
crew, and asks us to join him at the after-party as his guests.
Grabbing a pair of Newcastle Ales, we mingle with the opening bands and Mike Dimkich and
Chris Wyse.
I spent about 15 minutes talking with Chris; he told me about a project he is working on. I'd
like to share it with you. His band is called 'OWL'. Chris tells me he plays a lot of stand-up
bass (like he did earlier in the CULT tour during 'Brother Wolf Sister Moon'). The sound is
'different', as he told me,., and he spoke proudly of his work. There are some samples available
here: http://www.owltheband.net/
About 20 minutes later, Ian Astbury enters the room. We approach him and he tells my girl, 'that's
one of my good ones' and he puts the 2006 version of his autograph on her tambourine with a black
Sharpie.
We exchange glad tidings, a few moments of chat, and then the room was cleared by Hard Rock staff.
Needless to say,.., I heard tambourine slaps to cd's in the car for the entire 4 hour drive back
to Miami.
A memorable weekend. 3 CULT shows in 3 days in 3 cities. 1120 total miles driven. Old friends
seen. New friends met. New bands brought on tour with cool sounds. Love all around. I celebrate
The CULT.
Can you dig that?
MadMadMike
Had to send this after reading the other reviews of the 11/5 Orlando Hard Rock show. This was my
20th Cult show, and I'll keep going back until either they, or I, drop! Having said that however,
I did not think they were at their best. In their defense, I actually think the Hard Rock is a
lousy venue for shows, and given a choice would never see live music there...(they get good acts
so you have to put up with a lousy room). The techs did not help either, and, as others noted,
some of the crowd was "off" and all that contributed to a bit of a slow start. They picked it up
in the middle and by the end were more like the band I'm used to seeing. The last few times
through Orlando they played the House of Blues (great sound in that room) and were great.
BUT....still a night with the Cult...and even a little "off their game" they are still the best
live band on the planet...!!!!!
Greg
After the main set, right after the band walked offstage before coming back out to do the
encores, pieces of a tambourine were laying on the floor between the stage and the barricade.
I, being front and centre yet again, saw that and jumped the barricade, grabbed the tambourine
pieces, and tried to jump back over the barricade into the audience. I slipped and basically
fell on top of the barricade, banged the hell outta my ribs, while MMMike and two other friends
tried to pull me back over the barricade into the audience- and while a 300 pound security
guard had me by my feet trying to pull me out and throw me out of the venue. Luckily they
managed to pull me away from the guard and I dissapeared into the crowd. I still have the
tambourine pieces, and several pics and another setlist, and as I'm typing this, it's been
two days and my ribs are still sore, but it was worth it! What a blast!
Rick/ Ho. J.
Soundcheck
Earth Mofo
King Contrary Man
Horse Nation
Hollow Man
Nirvana
Gone
King Contrary Man
Spanish Gold
Setlist
Lil' Devil
Sweet Soul Sister
Electric Ocean
The Witch
Spiritwalker
Revolution
Rain
The Phoenix
Star
Edie (Ciao Baby)
Fire Woman
Wonderland
Peace Dog
Rise
Wild Flower
Love Removal Machine
Encore
She Sells Sanctuary