The Cults!

What attracted me to the music of the band, Cults?  A trend in music lately, is what I like to call the throwback sound.  Whether it be a sound similar to the 50,s, 60's or 70's, ranging anywhere from classic rock to jazz and blues, it resembles the sounds that one might have heard on the radio, back in the day.  The Cults are one of those bands, for me.  Their self titled album, released last year, is all about love, love lost and picking up the pieces. 

This band has been to Arizona at least six times since their release and I seemed to miss each one, until the most recent!  They came back for a show on March 19, 2012, at one of my favorite venues, The Rhythm Room.  Since Stateside Presents created Crescent Ballroom, they do not book as many shows at The Rhythm Room.  So when a band that I really want to see, is set to play a show there, I jump on the opportunity.  This was certainly no exception, hooray for the Cults!  Two bands were opening for them, Mrs. Magician from San Diego, and Spectrals, from the UK.  Mrs. Magician brought the surfer rock sound to the stage and their set was quite enjoyable.  The Spectrals were fun to watch and their tunes were pop infused, but a good match for the Cults tour.  I rather enjoyed both acts, which was a nice lead up to the headliners. 

Time for the main act!  The room was suddenly filled with smoke from a smoke machine and some ambiance music was playing in the background, as we all waited for the Cults to take the stage.  I must say, the smoke was a little much, especially in such a small place.  I thought at one point, I might have to go get some air because I was choking!  Being that this was a sold out show, it was packed and I couldn't get around much, so I stood off to the side and just enjoyed.  That does mean that I couldn't get any decent pictures, but oh well.  I was surprised at the elaborate set up they put together.  And since I am being honest, it felt a little too big, for such a small venue.  They are pretty popular so I couldn't help but wonder if they should have played a little bit of a larger venue.  That is not a stab at the Rhythm Room at all!  It just felt as though their fancy lighting and projected backdrop, were all lost in translation somewhere.  But when they opened the show with the song Abducted, I was happy to hear such a clear voice and notes being hit perfectly, just like they sound on the album.  They played almost all of their songs off their debut and even graced us with a Leonard Cohen cover.  I felt that the lead singer, Maddie, might be singing along with her own vocal track...not lip-syncing because I could tell she was singing, but it was a little off here and there; enough to make me question it.  My thoughts were confirmed when a friend mentioned what I was thinking, at the end of the show (thanks Gail).  I also read somewhere that she was recently under the weather and her voice was affected by it.  So it is a good possibility that she needed the vocal track for a little help.  Bless her heart for performing any way, if that is indeed a fact.  I wasn't disappointed by it either way, it was still a good show to see and I was very satisfied with their performance. 

On a side note to those that were at the show, did anyone else think that the drummer had a striking resemblance to Neil Patrick Harris?