July 13th

 On July 13th, 2018 I saw The Cult with opening act Mike McDonald of local band Jr. Gone Wild play a free show at Union Hall in Edmonton. This free show was sponsored by the Aurora Cannabis company.

January 8th

 

 On January 8th, 1992 I saw Lenny Kravitz open for The Cult at the Agricom in Edmonton. I've never been a fan of The Cult, yet have seen them more times then I care to mention. Usually opening for someone I want to see, although a few times headlining. I always stick around to see if I can like them and always am disappointed. But Lenny was awesome. he was on the road promoting his second album Mama Said.

August 26th

  

 On August 26th, 1987 I went to see Guns N' Roses open for The Cult at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Guns N' Roses debut album Appetite For Destruction had only been out for a month at the time and I was already a huge fan having bought their Live Like a Suicide EP back in December of 1986. I didn't stick around for very much of The Cult.

June 3rd

  

 After seeing Metallica on June 2nd in Edmonton, a few of my buddies and I ended up down at Millcreek Ravine partying til morning light, that's when we came up with the bright idea of going to Calgary June 3rd, 1989 to see Metallica and The Cult in concert again. This time our seats were way up in the boonies at the Olympic Saddledome but we didn't care as we still had an awesome time.

June 2nd

 

 It was June 2nd 1989 that I saw Metallica on their Damaged Justice tour play Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. Opening the show was The Cult, who did not fare well opening for Metallica. Metallica kicked ass on this tour!

The Cult Live in Edmonton July 13th 2018

Last Friday my buddy RCD and I went to the The Cult show here at Union Hall, a rare club show for a band like The Cult. This was a free show if you were lucky enough to get in on the tickets, in which I was. The show was put on by Aurora which is a medical marijuana producer and distributor, soon be a legal product for recreational use here in Canada come October 17th. Aurora has been doing a concert series called the Aurora Illumination Series where bands play club shows which are free for the fans all across the country. The show here in Edmonton, which is the second show that Aurora has put on here was The Cult. I honestly didn't even realize this British rock band was even still together never mind touring. While I have never really been a fan of this band, this would be my fifth time seeing them in concert. Having seen them with GnR, opening for the likes of Metallica twice, Lenny Kravitz, yet never really cared for them. Oh ya, also saw lead singer Ian Astbury front The Doors 20th Century thing they did. I do have more respect for them now then I did back in the day, and thought seeing them play a club show would be pretty damn cool.

A day after I scored the tickets much to my surprise they announced Mike McDonald as the opener. Mike is a local musician who also fronts the band Jr. Gone Wild, but this would be a solo show. Seemed like a really weird gig for Mike. I wasn't so sure how he would go over with a Cult crowd, I was actually quite nervous for him. But he did awesome, the crowd were into him, and there seemed to be quite a few people in the crowd that knew his music, after all he has been playing since the 80's so it's not like he is unknown. I myself am a huge fan of both his solo and JGW music. This would be my fifth time seeing Mike McDonald play a solo show.

Mike's 45 minute set was excellent with great song choices for this kind of crowd, mixing in solo and JGW tunes. The venue was quite full for him too, which makes sense as those that had free tickets had to be there by 8:30. I think Mike was even surprised by the great response he got from the crowd.

Some of the songs Mike did were, "The Longest Song In The Universe" from his first solo album Is This Thing On?, as well as a couple from his Live At The Blue Chair Café album. Which included "Fifty Dollar Whore" and "Slept All Afternoon". Mike also played a few new Jr. Gone Wild tunes that have yet to be released, "Five Million Songs In One", "Barricades (The Hockey Riot Song)" which is song actually written by Steve Loree the other guitar player in JGW, "Fools Errand" also was played. Just so many great songs. It was awesome to see Mike play to a near full venue and pull it off. Great job Mike.

Mike McDonald at Union Hall.

Next up was the main act that everyone was waiting for The Cult. The Cult have gone through many a member in the band, this version of the band included as always Ian Astbury on vocals and Billy Duffy on lead guitar, rounding out the band was Damon Fox on keyboards, Grant Fitzpatrick on bass and drummer John Tempesta who has also played in Testament and Rob Zombie's band.

By the time The Cult came on the place was super packed. The band opened with "Wild Flower" which sounded incredible, a great opening song, then into "Rain". Then there were a few songs that I'm not all that familiar with, like I say have never really followed the band that close despite seeing them quite a few times. I still don't think Ian has the strongest voice but hey that's just my opinion. I did think that they closed the show out great playing "Sweet Soul Sister", "Fire Woman", "Love Removal Machine" and for the encore "She Sells Sanctuary". I had to laugh as Ian still loves to bang around the tambourine a lot, I remember that from all the other times I have seen him. At least this time he seemed sober and didn't have the attitude that I have seen him have before. Like the time I saw him get booed off the stage after four songs when they opened for Metallica back in 1993. All and all this was a fun show to be at. Good times!!!

The Cult at Union Hall.

Free t-shirt I got for signing up for the Aurora newsletter. Just wish the t-shirt mentioned The Cult on it.

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26 Years Ago Today...August 26th

It was twenty-six years ago today that I saw Guns N' Roses open for The Cult at the Convention Centre here in Edmonton. I was there for GnR, as I am not a fan of the headliner. Great show.

Also on this day twenty-four years ago, I saw Johnny Winter play Dinwoodie Lounge in Edmonton.

26 Years Ago Today...Jan.8th

Got a couple of show for you today.

It was twenty-six years ago today that I saw David Lee Roth in concert for the first time. The show was at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.

Also on this day, twenty-one years ago I saw The Cult with Lenny Kravitz opening again in Edmonton at the Agricom. I was there to see Lenny Kravitz as I have never been a fan of The Cult.

Ticket Stub Of The Day Dec.1st (The Cult/Lenny Kravitz)

Today's ticket stub is from the Lenny Kravitz and The Cult double bill I saw in 1992 at The Agricom here in Edmonton. The only reason I went to this show was to see opener Lenny play, as I have never been a fan of The Cult, yet have seen them way too many times. Lenny was touring for his second album 'Mama Said' and The Cult were touring for their album 'Ceremony'. I really enjoyed Lenny's show and left during The Cult.

Concert Shirts/Poster Of The Day Oct.31st (Metallica)

Today's t-shirts are from the time I saw Metallica on the ...And Justice For All tour in 1989. This was my third and fourth time seeing Metallica in concert. I did the back to back Edmonton and Calgary shows for this tour. The Edmonton show at Northlands Coliseum we had row 2 on the floor for. I went to this show with Nerraw,Eor,Hurl and A-Bomb. The Cult opened for the shows, and were touring for their Sonic Temple album which was a big album for them, but they didn't go over well at all with the Metallica audience. Lead singer Ian Astbury was trying to get a reaction from the crowd, all he was getting was the finger from the Metallica crowd. They didn't go over well at all. I have never been a fan of The Cult and have always found Ian Astbury to be a dick.

After the concert, my buddies and I were all hyped up after the show and decided to go down to Mill Creek Ravine and drink ourselves silly. We partied in the bushes til daylight, then made the decision that we had so much fun at the show that wer were going to go to Calgary and see it again. Which is what we did. Nerraw,A-Bomb and myself drove to Calgary that morning and got tickets at the door, shitty seats, but still another great time. An awesome weekend of Metallica. Good times!!!

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