The need to rock

Have a confession of sorts. I didn’t listen to any Cult music in the weeks leading up to seeing the band play in Chicago recently. This tour was focused on playing their album Electric which I was really looking forward to, but didn’t want to think too much about it – if you know what I mean. I’ve seen them so many times that I just want to “live” the experience in the moment. Musically, the last couple of months I’ve been aching to hear some rock and roll. I’d been listening to Songza playlists featuring metal standards of the past few decades. Not exactly my usual early alternative fare, huh?

So I found it coincidental to read a Chris Wyse (The Cult’s bass player on their tours since about ’06) interview as he had been doing more press for this tour than Ian and Billy. And while reading I was reminded that he’d actually played bass on the 2001 album, Beyond Good and Evil (which to say I adore wouldn’t even come close to being accurate). Just then it dawned on me I should check out his other band, OWL. And guess what? It was exactly the type of ear candy I’ve been jonesing for – good rock and roll; a little heavy on the side. BAM! as some of my friends would say. 🙂

You should give them a listen.  Stream tunes directly from their site and then go out and buy it.  A few suggestions from their latest release, The Right Thing: “Taking Over”, “The Right Thing” and a Kinks’ cover, “Destroyer,” all fun tracks.

And side note:  Yes, The Cult were in top form. Wish I could hear them again on this tour.  Hearing one of my favorite lines “We are not chained to the wheel” always hits the right spot with me!

Billy Duffy Signature Gretsch

Luv the fact he referenced “Diary of A Rock And Roll Star”!  Billy, you’re aces.  🙂

Specs from the Gretsch site

Features video

Play it big.  Play it loud.  Just PLAY it!

Boris + Astbury = BXI

Several outlets have been talking about this upcoming EP pairing Boris with Ian Astbury.  There is some solid buzz surrounding the project, BXI, which I’m psyched to hear! 

Based on the initial interviews I’m reading/hearing the interviewers don’t seem to “get” the fact that such a collaboration feels just as natural to him as his recent work with Slash.  That’s just Ian.  He’s seriously into a lot of different types of music.  Often he mentions bands that I’ve been into as well:  FSOL, Primal Scream, Blonde Redhead, BRMC and the like. 

I tend to get my feathers ruffled easily when anyone disses Ian or The Cult.  And I think I am now realizing why.  It’s not just because they are my favorite band and Ian is my favorite singer.  It goes a little deeper than that.  I think it’s because when they’re misunderstood I feel misunderstood as well.

The Cult have such an interesting history.  Ian’s roots following Crass around; the influence of punk on the band — it gets lost on folks who think of them as “classic rock dinosaurs.”   He’s a new music junkie.  One of the reasons I really like the guy.  That, and he’s just a crazy, madman to boot!  😉

I totally love the fact that he paces and rants on stage, writes bizarre and cryptic messages on the (old) board or twitter and most of all I love the fact that he is always searching for new music to love and be inspired by.  Yeah, when someone rolls their eyes at my affinity for Ian or The Cult I simply smile to myself because I know they aren’t in on the joke!

Following are two parts to a recent audio interview with Ian (mainly about the new project):

Part I

Part II

Jim Marshall musings

Matt Sorum commented on iconic photog, Jim Marshall’s passing last week to Blabbermouth.  I would love to hear some of the stories he told Matt.

Also, Ian mentioned this via Twitter:

 “Deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Been reading the Obituaries. They do not weigh up the profound talent and personality… That he was anarchic, outspoken, a brilliant wit and fine taste in Cameras + Whiskey + Guns, made H Thompson look tame.” – Ian Astbury

The Cult play London

The Cult are trekking thru Europe for the next week before heading back to play Canada.  (They’ll play a few dates in the States as well.)  The Guardian posted a review of their show at the London Forum this week.  I’ve seen them enough to read between the lines of a review – I take them with a grain of salt.  As Ian’s said time and time again “you get us or you don’t.” 

But I smiled a couple times reading this particular interview and decided to post about it.  The reviewer starts out talking about their history and how the guys have held up pretty well.  Quote: “Duffy retains the rugged charm of a heavy metal Sean Bean”  – too funny. 

He also calls them “rock’s odd couple” and mentions Duffy’s mild reaction when Astbury tries to rile up the crowd.  Umm.  Yeah, I’ve seen that look a few times before!  Though they have slid down my list of favorite bands (still in 2nd place) I’ll continue to go to their shows as long as they keep playing.  One of these days maybe Ian will dust off “Big Neon Glitter” for me.

Oh and one last thing – people have been talking about that guy on American Idol, Michael Johns…I swear he could be Ian’s nephew.  Take the stubble off of the pic above, make him about 15 years younger and *poof*!   People were comparing him to Michael Hutchence, but I think he’s closer to Ian.  Vocally he might be closer to Hutchence.  I guess time will tell.

Here’s a youtube clip from the London show earlier this week.  And guess what?  It starts out with one of Ian’s mini-sermons (something about not letting people count you out)!  Side note:  One of my fav IA tirades was at Reading fest (2000 or 2001) and he was just pacing back and forth.  He said “All the crap they’ve written about me.  That I’m mental…it’s all f’ing true!” 

Ha, ha!!  I don’t know whether to give him the devil horns or just a big hug!  🙂