The Sisters of Mercy at Uptown Theater, Kansas City MO (2023-06-08)
Don’t Drive on Ice
Ribbons
Alice
I Will Call You
But Genevieve
Dominion/Mother Russia
Summer
Show Me
Marian
More
Instrumental 86
Doctor Jeep / Detonation Boulevard
Eyes of Caligula
Something Fast
Here
On the Beach
When I’m on Fire
Encore:
Lucretia My Reflection
Temple of Love
This Corrosion
A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION SETLIST
Who’s Your Maker?
The Beauty
Close Your Eyes
Ghosts
Dead Skies
Becoming
Echo
THE SISTERS OF MERCY Tour Dates
June 09 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
June 11 Guadalajara Mexico C3 Stage
June 13 Ciudad de México Mexico Circo Volador
June 16 Santiago Chile Club Chocolate
June 18 São Paulo Brazil Tokio Marine Hall
September 22 London UK The Roundhouse *
September 23 London UK The Roundhouse *
September 26 Amsterdam NL Paradiso *
September 27 Utrecht NL Tivoli Vredenburg *
September 29 Münster Germany Jovel Music Hall *
September 30 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg Rockhal *
October 02 Hannover Germany Capitol *
October 03 Hamburg Germany Docks *
October 05 Berlin Germany Columbiahalle *
October 06 Leipzig Germany Haus Auensee *
October 08 Köln Germany Carlswerk Victoria *
October 09 Wiesbaden Germany Schlachthof *
October 11 Budapest Hungary Dürer Kert *
October 12 Praha Czech Republic Lucerna Music Bar *
October 14 Würzburg Germany Posthalle *
October 15 Stuttgart Germany LKA Longhorn *
October 17 Lyon France Le Transbordeur *
October 18 Paris France La Cigale *
October 20 Bordeaux France Le Krakatoa *
October 21 Toulouse France Le Bikini *
October 23 València Spain Sala Repvblicca *
October 24 Madrid Spain La Riviera *
October 26 Lisboa Portugal Lisboa Ao Vivo *
October 27 Porto Portugal Hard Club *
October 29 Bilbao Spain Sala Santana *
October 31 Genève Switzerland Alhambra *
November 02 Trezzo sull’Adda Italy Live Club *
November 03 Cesena Italy Teatro Verdi *
November 05 Zagreb Croatia Boćarski Dom *
November 06 Bratislava Slovakia Majestic Music Club *
November 08 Wien Austria Simm City *
November 11 Łódź Poland Sound Festival Wytwórnia *
November 12 Münster Germany Jovel Music Hall *
November 15 Bristol UK Marble Factory *
November 16 Wolverhampton UK KK’s Steel Mill *
November 18 Newcastle UK NX *
November 19 Nottingham UK Rock City *
November 21 Manchester UK Academy *
November 22 Glasgow UK SWG3 *
(* – w/Virgin Marys)
Last album? 1990. Last US Tour?- 2008.
But The Sisters of Mercy returned to the live stage at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO, like they’ve never been away for anywhere near that long. The goth rock pioneers are directly responsible for offshoot bands like The Mission (who themselves return finally to local stages this October) and Ghost Dance and have influenced countless others.
The evening would begin with a well-received opening set from Toronto’s A Primitive Evolution playing songs from their three studio albums (though sadly didn’t include their recent cover of Motorhead‘s “Ace of Spades”.)
Singer/guitarist Brett Carruthers mentioned his recent affection for all things Kansas City, as he and keyboardist Owen Mackinder also both happen to be in fellow T.O band The Birthday Massacre. TBM themselves were recently in town, playing the adjoining venue next door in late April (WHM caught them last March in Minneapolis), so there was some added familiarity in returning back to the area again so soon.
After the obligatory set change, TSOM entered the already dim-lit stage, full of rolling fog that resembled the recent Canadian wildfire hazy skies and took no musical prisoners.
The focused foursome (+ drum machine Doktor Avalanche, of course) went through a twenty-song curated set that was almost half culled from their three studio albums, and half were yet-to-be-released gems, to show the band hadn’t been completely resting on any laurels.
File this under Bands We Never Thought We’d See Live- the joy of watching singer Andrew Eldritch stalk the stage darting in and out of the darkness and mist, was a rare live moment; one we hope will return again, much sooner than later.
More info to come!
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THE SISTERS OF MERCY have announced their first US tour in over 14 years: 19 dates, commencing on May 10, 2023.
For over four decades, The Sisters of Mercy (TSOM) have been an iconic force in underground music; defining, defying and denying numerous subgenres of rock and roll.
Their unique blend of punk-psychedelia, metal, dance beats and guttural growls have mesmerized the masses for several generations – and for many fans in the US, this will be their first ever opportunity to catch the band live.
In November 2022, TSOM announced their first live appearance on American soil since the second Bush administration.
Formed in Leeds, 1980, TSOM, while named after a Leonard Cohen song, took inspiration from such luminaries as Bowie, Slade and The Velvet Underground. But their closest sonic bedfellows are The Stooges, Motörhead and Suicide, the influence of which imbued the band with a distinct sound of their own when compared to others in the post-punk era.
1987’s Floodland was a massive breakthrough for the band, featuring epic tracks such as “Dominion,” “Lucretia My Reflection,” and, of course, 10+ minute opus “This Corrosion,” all three of which can still be heard on dance floors to date. 1990’s Vision Thing featured a harder, more metal-influenced sound, yet retained their trademark drum machine pummel and lyrical ambiguity.
The disingenuous nature of the music industry in the ‘90s left Andrew Eldritch with a distaste for the record business, shifting his focus to performing live in lieu of releasing recorded music. Yet, while TSOM have not released an LP since Vision Thing, their popularity and impact has only grown stronger over time, with their erudite rock and roll cacophony influencing countless bands over their tenure.
Recent live reviews have championed the show as the band’s strongest in years, with Eldritch supported by the stellar performances of Ben Christo, Dylan Smith, ‘Ravey’ Dave Creffield and, as ever, Doktor Avalanche. Add to this a cinematic light show and a set list of huge hits, deep cuts and acclaimed new tunes and you’ve got the recipe for a killer night.
(Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)
