Harley Davidson Cafe, Las Vegas, Nevada
Pictures by Jammer13 & Patrick
Opening bands: UPO, Big Bad Zero, American Pearl
I just got in from Vegas this evening and am still riding the melt that was this weekend! Had the
time of a lifetime in Vegas! It was fucking freezing cold as we stood in line waiting to get in.
Dacotah and I got to meet EVB and her friend - nice gals! Everyone was just standing in line
freezing around 8pm when Dacotah spotted a long dark pony tail sprinting by the line with a cami
back pack. We took off down the street after Ian "Spirit Light Speed" Astbury. We caught up with
him and spoke for a little while. He was walking up the strip to his hotel so we let him go. After
getting back in line I spotted Matt Sorum walking by the line of people .. no one noticed him either.
We were too cold to run after him so we called his name and he waved. They finally let us in the HDC
which was quite small and a great place to see a concert. I think that if the HDC does this type of
concert in the future that they should lower the ticket prices and make the concert goers pay for
their liquor as people were totally fucked up. People were bombed beyong all belief and caused a lot
of damage to the HDC. Broken windows and damaged carpets according to some of the employees. The
opening acts: UPO (?) and Big Bad Zero were both pretty good. Good energy but people clearly
weren't there to see them and somewhat made it known. The lead singer for BBZ didn't seem to
pleased with the amount of enthusiasm showed for their set. They were pretty darn good! I was
impressed. I wish luck for both opening acts. Only 890 people were there although 1000 tickets had
been sold. The Cult took the stage around 11pm and rocked hard core!!! By the time they took the
stage sooo many people were crocked and were totally out of control. Ian is usually very aware of
what the crowd is doing but he was particularly into the set and spent his energies almost completely
submerged into his music and didn't notice some of the mayhem. Dacotah and I were standing front and
center right underneath Ian and were lucky enough to have some assholes behind us while one
eventually burned where with a cigar. I kept looking at Ian hoping that he'd look down and see us
asking him for help but he was so into the groove. Thank God Martyn saw us as he wet the fucker
down with his water bottle and motioned for the guy to knock it off. The set list was exactly the
same as the summer tour. No straying of any sort. Ian sounded INCREDIBLE and the guys played
INSANELY! We were a little sad that they celebrated midnight back stage instead of with us but
that's OK! Almost everyone was outside when they emerged back on stage - I'd guess there was no
more than 100 people in the entire HDC when they took the stage again. Of course everyone came
flooding back in. The first song of the second set was Peace Dog which kicked particular
ass seeing as how the New year came in peacefully and also as this song is KILLER live! The band
seemed to really be enjoying the set but it seemed to end a little prematurely. It felt like they
were going to or were supposed to play longer. EVB said that she later heard from employees of the
HDC that they were supposed to play for longer but cut it short due to the crowd basically being out
of control. They closed with Love Removal Machine and Ian threw his tambourine out into the
crowd. Guess who caught it??? Me and Dacotah! After the band left the stage and the lights came on ..
we chatted with other fans and met some of the members of the opening acts. I was talking to Dan
Gauthier of Big Bad Zero when I noticed Martyn by the stairs. I went over to chat with him, get an
autograph and to have him sign the tam. We waited for the rest of the band to come downstairs almost
in vain. We somehow missed Billy, Matt and Mike and nearly missed Ian. We saw the same thing we saw
while standing out in line .. the pony tailed (only this time tucked under a knit cap) and the cami
back pack. As it was well after 3am .. he said a quick Hi, good night and thanks for coming. I
refused to leave it at this so we followed him out the kitchen exit and watched as he said good
night to the crew and thanked them for a good nights work. I got to take pictures of him all
throughout the concert and saved a couple last ones in the hopes of getting to meet him. I walked
up to him, started talking to him, asked for a pic and Dacotah and I wound up talking to him for
quite a while. He was very sweet, gracious and a total gentleman! He signed the tam (which is in
beautiful shape and is worth a pretty penny!), took pics, signed autographs but more valuable than
anything .. he took his time and got to know some admirers. He listened very humbley and intently to
all we had to say and was very charming!! We got to give him all kinds of little kisses and hugs. I
was so thoroughly impressed with the amount of time that Martyn and Ian spent with us - talking,
joking and listening. Being wonderfully charming and delightful! Ian obliged me with my New Years
Eve kiss and jumped in his van and was off. Hope everyone from these Cult message/posting boards
who got to go to the concert enjoyed the night (and morning hours) as much as I did. For those of
you that didn't get to go .. hope you welcomed the new year in safely and had a great time! Cult
2000 baby! Everyone will get their chance to catch them in the New year! Peace, Love, Namaste!
Peggy
Just got back into Phoenix. The desert out here is really beautiful, especially on winter
nights. What can I say abuot the show?.....Of course it was a fantastic time. The set list
was much the same as last summer, only with a break at midnight. Everybody went outside to the
patio in front of HD Cafe and toasted in the New Year! Ian spoke of "Priests"; John Lennon, Sid
Vicious, Jimi Hendrix who lived in this century. He then dedicated Edie (Ciao Baby) to
them. Peace Dog was the first song they played in 2000, they rocked it hard!!!! Some
members of the crowd got kind of stupid about mid-way through the second set...."All you can
drink" Given the amount of booze consumed I am suprised that it wasn't any crazier. sorry this
is so jumbled up and not exactly the best report, but I was in Vegas with the CULT last
night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick
I saw the Cult on New Years Eve and it was truly the most bad-ass concert i have ever
been too. The band played the most unbelievable set for I believe almost 3 hours aside
from a break for the midnight hoopla. Ian Asturbury hung out in the crowd before and
after the show and not in the lame ass VIP section but on the floor. The cover charge
was $300 and worth every damn penny. The crowd was rocking so hard it was amazing. The
energy in the room was something you rarely get to experience. I have listen to The Cult
everyday since that show and it fires me up still. Later.
Brent Santos - brent-santos@hotmail.com