The moon howled when the Spiritwalker himself, Ian Astbury, led a Los Angeles crowd through ‘80s deep cuts that fans had yearned for. Death Cult came to town with a saged stage, a tenured band, and a frontman that has withstood the test of time. Sixteen songs equaled 70 minutes of amazing music for a crowd that knew this band’s catalog inside out.
Diehard fans arrived hours before the show to stand in line to be at the front of the stage, singing every lyric, and wanting to be in the presence of two musical greats – Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy.
The show began with “83rd Dream” and its haunting bass, courtesy of Charlie Jones, and the subtle guitar stylings of Billy Duffy. The delicate sound was completed thanks to the slight roar of the cymbals of John Tempesta.
As this was the El Rey in Los Angeles, Astbury reminded the audience that it is the City of Angels indeed. He called for a moment of reflection for the first responders in the audience, and when the crowd began to sing him happy birthday (May14th), he wouldn’t let it happen. He reminded them “community, hope, and love had to be at our most forethought.”
Astbury continued on, stating, “No bullshit; I love this city. That’s why I live here. I’m here and we can be whoever we want to be in this city.” Continuing to thank LA for all it has given him, and honoring the victims of the tragic fires, he went into “Butterflies,” an appropriately melodic masterpiece.
This show was different in that it was not a typical Cult show full of ‘80s and ‘90s known hits. But the crowd connected with all of the songs, including those from “Dreamtime” and self-titled Death Cult works. Only the truest of Cult fans would know you’re not coming to this show to hear “Fire Woman” and “Love Removal Machine!”
Astbury showed his human side by using a very large songbook to remind himself of lyrics from 40 years’ worth of material. He gave the front row a very up close and personal look at him as he bent down to turn the pages of the lyric book.
The crowd roared in appreciation when “Spiritwalker” erupted and Astbury’s energy matched with the audience’s enthusiasm. Astbury has always been a Native American history admirer and it comes through in his commitment to the music, the sage, and the overall choice of lyrics in his songs – they are very poignant and meaningful.
The air of the crowd remained one of excitement the entire set and the band seemed to thrive on it, returning it to the audience in kind. This band is full of talented musicians and they have the chops to continue touring for the foreseeable future. They gave us the ultimate encore with “She Sells Sanctuary,” where the drums rule and the killer sound of Duffy’s iconic Falcon roared again, leaving us wanting so much more.
As a longtime fan of the band, I feel throughout its evolution of names, players, and content, one thing has never changed – Astbury is the consummate frontman with endless energy. I found myself somewhere in 1985 and my love for this band won’t falter.
Astbury and Duffy continue to play the music that we love, and do everything to connect to the audience. My favorite moment came when the intro to “Hollow Man” began and I was yelling to my 16-year-old self, “Your favorite song is on!”
I loved the show; it reminded me of the past, the present, and the future of my musical heroes. Take the time to see live music and support the artists you’ve loved all these years later.
