The Cult at The Wellmont

original article from The Aquarian

MONTCLAIR, NJ- I remember first buying the album Love by The Cult. It wasn’t 1985, but I probably did have too much hairspray and eyeliner on at the time. I knew a couple of their hits and liked Ian Astbury’s ruffled shirts, so I figured it’d be a good filler record to have in my collection. Instead of lumping it with the rest of the fillers that made few trips to my turntable, it ended up getting listened to repeatedly. So when I saw that The Cult was playing their entire Love album at The Wellmont Theatre, I was curious to see what these guys sound like after forming 26 years ago.

No opening band? Awesome! Starting the show close to an hour and a half late? Eh! I wished there was an opening band instead of hearing the same five songs on loop over the speakers. I did however enjoy listening to the grandpa Goths talk about seeing Southern Death Cult “back in the day.” It sucks being born around three decades too late.

They did a great job playing through Love. “Hollow Man” sounded enormous and the crowd roared once “She Sells Sanctuary” started. Pleasing fans with other hits such as “Fire Woman” and “Wild Flower, The Cult played a solid set of guitar howls, crooning vocals, and sultry bass lines. Ian Astbury looked like “L.A. Women” era Jim Morrison with his grizzly beard, but his vocals haven’t aged a bit. Even though he looks nothing like he did in the ‘80s, he did have on leather gloves and a raccoon tail hanging by his hip. Guitarist Duffy blew me away with his echoed solos and white holy body guitar that looked bigger than he was.
Though I was expecting Astbury’s infamous tribal hip shakes, instead he complained about how the concrete stage was giving him pain from his recent hip surgery and commanding the Wellmont to use the stage lights instead of the spotlight. What a rock star! The psychedelic video in the backdrop of nature, people, and trippy effects made the show better and livened up the lack of movement from the band. By the end of the show, Astbury threw the tambourine he was playing into the crowd, Duffy threw a bunch of picks, and the overpriced beer fueled crowd went nuts over them. Let’s hear it for big hair, leather, and combat boots!

According to Ian Astbury, there are rumors of The Cult going into the studio soon, so hopefully they’ll have a new album out within the next year or two.

FOR VIDEOS OF THE SHOW.... CLICK HERE!!!!

Psychedelic Furs at the Wellmont

Alright, so I was REALLY pissed when I walked into the Wellmont and they put seats in the standing area. Huh??? I understood that it was an "older" crowd, but that doesn't mean that they can't stand. Stand up, you're at a show! I was really happy we found seats and were able to stand up against the stage, but please Wellmont don't do that again... It's silly.

The opening band wasn't too impressive. Drum machines, side parts, bass and snare drum kit, slide guitar, long greasy hair, synths. They offered dance beats that got some people bopping, but eh... I dunno. None of the songs stuck with me or gave me that "damn" feeling. Sorry boys!

So this would be my second time seeing the furs live and while I did think that it might be a little repetitive, it wasn't at all. Though Richard Butler had a few shaky moments with his vocals and admitted to sounding like a "train wreck" (it seemed he was having trouble with his ear piece), all and all it was a good show.

I can't help but say the word CUTE when it comes to seeing these guys live. They're super smiley and with Richard Butler's jumping and hip shaking and swirls, you can't go wrong. The saxophone player, Mars Williams, was AMAZING. They didn't have him play when I saw them back in 2005(i think?). This guy may be a little short, but he has a lot of energy to belt out the solos that he did. I was a little upset not to see guitarist John Ashton, but the new guitar player was great. The keyboardist wasn't really needed on most songs in my opinion, I'm sure she's awesome and really sweet! Tim Butler will always be cool with his shades and bass lines. It was also cool to see drummer, Paul Garisto, who toured with them in the mid '80s.(thanks Anna at D16 sorry for the fuck up)

Here's a clip of them playing "Heaven", where you'll see Richard Butler doing his signature praying spin at 0:33..haha

I liked the set list a lot more last time I saw them, but this show's set was good too. Alright so I have the set list all jumbled in my mind... So here's just the songs they played in no order. I think I might've missed some!

Goodbye, I Just Wanna Sleep With You, She is Mine, It Goes On, Heartbeat, Dumb Waiters, Heaven, So Run Down, Like a Stranger, I Don't Want to be Your Shadow, All of This and Nothing, No Tears, My Time, Pretty in Pink, Ghost in You, Love My Way..

It was a fun show, some of the crowd was really sweet, while others were yelling "play stuff we know" and "pretty in pink" from the beginning of the show.... lame.

The Furs have supposedly been working on new material. I'm curious to hear what it sounds like. Hopefully it'll be good!

Photos by: Ray Schwartz
Video by http://www.youtube.com/user/ashydave

Three shows coming up that will make you feel like it's 1988 ...(NJ and NYC)

For those of us who were learning how to color inside the lines during the '80s, this is our chance to go to a show, block the camera phones and digital cameras out of sight, get your pointy black boots on, and dance around like it's 1988.

PSYCHEDELIC FURS
Friday, June 12- House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ- $25- Ages 18+
Saturday, June 13- Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ- $23- All Ages
(click on the link for tickets)

These guys are awesome live! They have a lot of energy after all these years. Richard Butler has nice dance moves and is really sweet. Last time I saw them, he held on to my hand and sang his heart out... Yes, I melted even though he's in his 50's. I also recall him ripping up a dollar bill and fans going crazy to grab the pieces..(I got some!) They play a variety of songs from their albums and not just their hits like "Pretty in Pink".

Photo by Jeremy Brooks

PETER MURPHY
Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, Highline Ballroom, $35, All Ages

C'mon dude... It's Peter Murphy! Bauhaus? King of da Goffics? (haha) I've never seen him live, but I've heard that his shows are an experience that people never forget. From things like him giving the microphone to the audience and doing a Q&A session with them (how sophisticated!) and other things like covering Joy Division, he doesn't seem to disappoint.

Photo by Charlois

THE CHURCH
Wednesday, July 8th, Irving Plaza, $30 Advanced $35 at the door, Ages 16+

This is the show at the top of my priority list. I can't and will not miss this show. I've never seen them, but that doesn't matter. I know this show is going to be amazing because The Church is just that. If you don't have a copy of Of Skins and Heart and/or Starfish, there is something wrong with you! They are really underrated and deserve a lot more recognition!
Photo by Tiare Hellberg

At least at these venues you have the chance to see them up close and get right up on that stage. Hope to see you there!

Simple Minds Graffiti Soul

It's hard for bands like Simple Minds to break away from their one hit that they had it the '80s and it's hard for people like me to get John Bender out of my head and repeatedly sing the "don't don't don't" part of the song.

Sadly, Simple Minds have fallen into the one hit wonders to some due their song "Don't You (Forget about me). I like that song and I'm too a fan of their other hit "Alive and Kicking," but to me, their earlier albums are SO much better. (YES, I SAID IT.... DEAL)

I'm more a fan of songs like "Love Song," which has a Danceteria feel to it and "Chelsea Girl," which has a power pop feel to it.

So when I heard that Simple Minds were coming out with a new album, I was curious to see how it sounded, due to their changes in sound from the late '70s to now.

Graffiti Soul is an album that radios could play comfortably because it's easy listening, but with a little bit of an edge. It's a lot like their albums from the '90s till now, average.

Most of the songs run in the four to five minute range and they could be shorter in my opinion. Yes, I am a fan of songs that are less than two minutes long, but I can tolerate longer songs if I don't get bored with it and it stays inventive. None of these songs did.

I was almost into the third track, "Stars Will Lead the Way," due to it's powerful guitar punch in the beginning, but the song died out very quickly.

I will say that I really enjoyed the guitar on this album. It's very dreary and echoed, which always gains points for me. I also thought that Jim Kerr, lead singer, doesn't sound like he's aged too much either with his smooth voice.

This album seems to be more for hardcore Simple Minds fans. So if you like everything they've made so far, you'd probably love this album.

If you're looking to listen to music where your feet will be enticed and feel like it's 1985, Sorry!

Depeche Mode: Sounds of the Universe

original article in the montclarion

When it comes to bands from the '80s, it's almost impossible to forget to mention Depeche Mode.
After forming in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England, they have become one of the most triumphant and influential bands from that era.

After close to 30 years, David Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher are still making their unique mark in music with the release of their 12th album, Sounds of the Universe.

Though Depeche Mode has always had a futuristic tone with their synthesizers and industrial clangs, Sounds of the Universe takes their darkwave roots and mixes it with outer-space-like music.

The album begins with "In Chains." The song starts with long, droned out tones that get louder and resemble a futuristic car revving up its engine. One would think this album would start out with a big bang after the climax of these notes, but it's quickly lowered to minimal drum beats when Gahan begins to sing. His echoing, reverberative voice entices ears to listen to each word he sings, making one's mind hang on to them. With Fletcher's synth chords holding the song together and Gore's melodies, they both keep with the intergalactic theme of the album. Though this song is one of the best on the album, it wasn't the right choice for an opening track.

"Wrong" is definitely the one track that stands out in this album. Having a sensual slapping beat accompanied by Gore's composition of heavy old school synthesizers, the music screams out "sexy." Gahan's voice sounds like it did in their song "I Feel You" from their 1993 album, Songs of Faith and Devotion, with his powerful shouting yet soothing voice. Though the lyrics talk about being repetitively wrong, Depeche Mode couldn't be more right with this track. No wonder this is the first single to come out; it takes elements of each album and puts them into one song perfectly.

"Come Back" has a shoegaze feel when it comes to the guitar sound in this track, which resembles legendary band My Bloody Valentine. The high reverb and distortion in the guitar creates a dream like symphony of music that is perfectly accompanied by Gahan's voice, which is higher then his usual baritone voice.

"Jezebel" is the only total disappointment when it comes to this album. Gore sings on this track, and it sounds like music one would hear in an elevator or lounge. This track doesn't fit in with the others. Sorry Martin! I usually like the songs you sing!

The deluxe box set of this album includes never-heard tracks, photo books and films, showing that Depeche Mode is all about pleasing their fans.

Though this album doesn't have the classic and catchy synth-pop sound that Depeche Mode is infamous for, it still manages to get people up to dance. It adds to their eclectic variety of music on their albums, and shows how far Depeche Mode has come. From band members leaving to Gahan's long-gone drug problem which left him dead for two minutes, it looks like nothing can stop this band from creating new innovations in music as they did years ago.

Depeche Mode's Sounds of the Universe tour already has sold out shows across Europe and the United States, showing that fans can't get enough of them even after all these years.

photo by U2005.com