The Cult appear to know where their bread and butter are made. Playing to a mixed crowd, Astbury and Duffy kept the formula simple.
They entered on some appropriately ominous opera piece that I couldn't quite place and launched headlong into some obscure track from one of the later albums. The crowd (including me) didn't recognize the first couple of songs but were just happy to see them. I imagine that the first couple of tunes are cuts from more recent albums (writer's note: I stopped buying Cult albums after Sonic Temple). Ian was sporting this weird "The Scarecrow Who Stole Christmas" outfit that only added to the confusion.
Long before they'd risk losing the crowd, they trotted the "Pure Cult" favorites we'd had come to see. L'il Devil and Rain gave Duffy a chance to get comfortable and the hired guns a chance to prove themselves. Astbury lost the Santa outfit and all was well with the world. Perhaps the only quibble would be the irritating back lighting and the sense that Astbury was saving himself.
At this point, Ian asked the collected half-fans if we'd like to hear something off the new album (set to be released within a couple of days). Not wanting to offend the band before the rest of the classics were played, the crowd gave as enthusiastic a cheer as it could muster. What followed were two tracks that seemed more the creation of studio musicians than the Cult we'd known and loved. Not that there was anything really wrong with the songs but it was as though the guys were trying to make up for having missed the Soundgarden/Stone Temple Pilot years. Duffy, at times, seemed completely out of his element. Moreover, did Astbury lose his powers to dance and wield a mic stand along with his hair?
The strength of the Cult's catalogue reeled the crowd back in. Gone now was Ian's ponderous Scarecrow hat for faithful renditions of The Witch, Firewoman, Sweet Soul Sister and Wildflower. Gone too were Duffy's subtle deferments to the studio axe-men. These tunes were old friends designed to play to his strengths. Just before the Cult's crowning jewel was played, Astbury asked the crowd if they wanted to hear anymore music after the next one. After the crowd cheered in acknowledgement Ian leapt into a somewhat stayed performance of She Sells Sanctuary.
After the obligatory crowd demand for more, the band took the stage for a little remembered song called Nirvana before kicking it up a notch for the night's final song. Love Removal Machine was the perfect foil to end the festivities. Ian belted out whatever was left in the tank and Duffy had the licks to match.
This show is just warm up to their tour in support of the new album "Beyond Good & Evil". If you missed this show then take comfort that the Cult promises to return in the fall.
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