Sunday, September 29, 2024

Smoke and Awe: An Evening with The Sisters of Mercy

 

Photo by Mick Burgess


Andrew Eldritch has always been a problem.  

 

As leader of The Sisters of Mercy since 1980, he’s managed to do everything completely wrong. His official output has been, shall we say, less prolific than Scott Walker’s. He’s far from press-accessible these days (a shame, really, considering his deadpan arrogance, sharp intellect, and snarky wit have always been rather endearing), and his band’s official website presumably hasn’t received a visual upgrade since the days of dial-up. (Really. Just look at the damn thing.) Sit his ass on a chair and have him do podcast interviews all day? Not a chance. Encourage him to engage on social media to promote his endeavors? Please. By music industry standards, the man is … difficult. But honestly, we should be used to that by now.

 

Just consider his body of work. After largely defining the sound and aesthetic of gothic rock in the ’80s — a distinction he’d doggedly deny, of course — he entered the ’90s with Vision Thing, a grandiose and often stunning take on Sunset Strip hard rock that felt more like a jam between Kraftwerk and Zodiac Mindwarp than a stroll through the Nephilim’s fields.

 

Songs like “Detonation Boulevard,” “When You Don’t See Me,” and the title track superbly captured the then-current trend of U.K. underground types growing out their hair and donning leathers in a bid for stateside success. (Take a listen to The Cult’s Sonic Temple or Steve Jones’ Fire and Gasoline. I ain’t wrong.) Ever seen the Sisters’ press photos at the time? They even looked like the bloody Cult! But was that anything close to what anyone expected from the “Lucretia My Reflection” guy? All these bewildering choices from the man who brought us Floodland should’ve spelled career suicide. Why didn’t they? Because Vision Thing was goddamn beautiful.

 

Yes, the album was more Harley-Davidson than Djarum Black, but it was still a Sisters of Mercy record. For every “If You Don’t See Me,” there was a “Ribbons.” For every “25 whores in the room next door,” there was an “I can love my fellow man, but I’ll be damned if I’ll love yours.”

 

And “Something Fast”? Leonard Cohen-quality balladry.

 

Even at their Hard Rock peak, the Sisters were never Poison. The band may have looked like they crawled out of the Rainbow at the time, but Vision Thing — like everything associated with the Sisters of Mercy name — thrived by prioritizing brains over bravado. (Despite the album’s conventional leanings, Eldritch was still Eldritchy enough to deliver a lyric about Marx and Engels — as well as a few skillfully veiled jabs at George H.W. Bush — on a product released by a major label in 1990. Impressive.)

 

Despite its Yankee-stroking studio sheen, Vision Thing was still very sophisticated and very British — and, ultimately, too much of both to truly capture the heart of the typical American record buyer upon its release. (The same fate befell the extraordinary Shriekback, who once had the audacity to sing “parthenogenesis” in the chorus of an attempted hit single — a masterstroke in completely going over a general audience’s head. Sometimes, you can be too smart for your own good.)

 

Oddly enough, glorious hindsight shows that Eldritch was onto something with Vision Thing that could’ve been massive in the States and beyond — the perfect look, the perfect vibe, and the perfect sound to usher in (and capitalize from) the Alternative music wave that was about to sweep the world. The stage was set to make the next Sisters of Mercy LP the one — which, naturally, means that Eldritch hasn’t issued a full-length recording since. Just 11 months before Nevermind, Vision Thing’s arrival marked the Sisters’ supposed swan song as an album-producing entity.

 

Aside from a couple of new recordings featured on the 1993 compilation A Slight Case of Overbombing, nary a note by the Sisters has been officially released in over 30 years. On paper, that’s a fairly crap way to cultivate a meaningful presence in the music world, but Eldritch’s apparent disdain for the record business hasn’t stopped him from maintaining and even expanding the band’s international following. Instead of using traditional channels, he’s showcased years of post-Vision Thing material exclusively in live performances, relying on fan recordings and word of mouth as his main distribution methods. The contrarian move has been a success, as The Sisters of Mercy still prompt considerable fanfare whenever they hit the road.

 

Yes, Eldritch has done it all wrong, but that’s precisely what makes him and his art so captivating. Sure, he headlines 5,000-seaters instead of stadiums, but every note he delivers is steeped in integrity — and his crowd turns up because they know the real thing when they hear it. As he man himself once put it, “We might not mean as much to as many people, but we mean more to the people that we reach […] Ultimately, if I have to choose between reaching more people or reaching a few people deeper, I will choose to reach a few people deeper every time.”

 

The Sisters of Mercy’s recent performance at Boston’s MGM Music Hall was a celebration of this truth. Heavy on smoke machines but light on between-song banter, the band’s current lineup — Eldritch, long-serving guitarist Ben Christo (a gentleman of the highest possible order, by the way), relatively new guitarist Kai, and Sisters mainstay Chris Catalyst (who had the all-important job of keeping the band’s “drummer,” Doktor Avalanche, plugged in and pumping) — went through their set Ramones-style, blasting through 19 songs in under 90 minutes. While classic tracks like “Dominion/Mother Russia,” “More,” a particularly menacing rendition of “Ribbons,” and the predictable encore of “Lucretia My Refection”/“This Corrosion” elicited the expected crowd roars, unreleased numbers like “Summer” and the exceptional “Don’t Drive on Ice” were received with equal enthusiasm. For my money (or, in this case, my guest pass), the band’s blistering takes on 1982’s “Alice” and the Vision Thing deep cut “I Was Wrong” were enough to make this the best live show I’ve seen in years. I’ll even forgive them for not touching anything off 1985’s First and Last and Always.

 

Eldritch has been in the game a long time, and it shows. At 65, his trademark baritone has become a gravelly growl that now echoes from a bald head that once sported flowing black locks. Who cares? If anything, his time-worn vocal grit only deepens the sinister edge of the group’s notoriously dark (I daren’t say “gothic” again) repertoire. And, really, who better to deliver it than someone who resembles Nosferatu?

 

The Sisters have seen a slew of stellar musicians pass through their ranks over the years, with talents like Wayne Hussey, Patricia Morrison, Tony James, and Craig Adams setting a high sonic and aesthetic bar along the way. Rising to the challenge with admirable aplomb, Christo and Kai have become essential to the band’s sound, handling much of the Boston set’s heaviest lifting through strong backing vocals and flawless musicianship worthy of their own spotlight. (Extra credit to Kai for his amazing vocal accompaniment on "Temple of Love.") This fact wasn’t lost on Eldritch, who frequently urged the crowd to pay attention to the guitarists by pointing to them like a proud Dr. Frankenstein showing off his creations.

 

“Genius” is tossed around far too liberally these days, but no word better describes Andrew Eldritch’s creative merits. A survivor of an industry known to destroy lesser men, he remains an intriguing square peg in a round, orthodox world.

 

Thank goodness for that.






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Sunday, September 22, 2024

A Chat with CLIFF AND IVY

 

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Alaska-based duo Cliff and Ivy about their 40-year history in music, their roots in the New Jersey underground music scene, their long-time relationships with members of Killing Joke, their extraordinary new album (Sinister Stars), and much more.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


A Chat with CHESTY MALONE AND THE SLICE 'EM UPS


Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Jaqueline Blownaparte and Anthony Allen Van Hoek of Chesty Malone and the Slice 'em Ups about the band's nearly 20-year history, its work with John Bechdel (Ministry/Killing Joke/Prong/Murder Inc.), and its new EP, Hell Is Full and We Need the Room.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


A Chat with MARTIN ATKINS (PIGFACE/PiL/KILLING JOKE/MUSEUM OF POST PUNK & INDUSTRIAL MUSIC)

Journalist/musician Joel Gausten (Pigface/Electric Frankenstein/The Undead) talks with Pigface bandleader Martin Atkins (Ministry/Killing Joke/PiL/Brian Brain/Lunar Bear Ensemble/Nine Inch Nails) about his musical exploits in New Jersey in the mid-to-late '80s, his introduction to the Chicago Industrial scene, the early days of his stint in Killing Joke, and the events that led him to create the Museum of Post Punk & Industrial Music.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Monday, September 2, 2024

Interview with WRETCHED GRAVEROBBER (GRAVE ROBBER)


Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Grave Robber frontman Wretched Graverobber about the legendary Horror Punk band's history, longevity, and new covers album, The Cellar Sessions.

Links in the Video Description






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with TOM GRECO (PUBLISHER, LINER NOTES MAGAZINE)


Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Tom Greco - publisher of the celebrated New Jersey-based music magazine Liner Notes (1995-2001) - about his history in media, his thoughts on the current state of music journalism, and a few of his most memorable experiences with some of the world's biggest musicians.






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with MIKE GALLO (AGNOSTIC FRONT/GALLO ORIGINALS)


Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Agnostic Front bassist Mike Gallo about his art business (Gallo Originals) and his decades-long history in the band.

Links in the Video Description






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Sunday, August 25, 2024

THE FIRST 100


As of today, I’ve conducted and posted 100 video interviews—including 97 since I decided to go in this direction in earnest last October—on my YouTube channel:

I had resisted doing video interviews for years (as writers should write), but I’ve really grown to appreciate the format’s ease and convenience. Here are all the guests I’ve had on the channel so far. My thanks to all of them for their time and fantastic conversations:

100. Alan Tecchio and Frank White (“Jersey Metal” book)
99. Claude S. and Mike Z. of Anything Box
98. Reg Bloor (Glenn Branca Ensemble/Paranoid Critical Revolution/Solo)
97. Dave Travis and David O. Jones of Carnage Asada
96. Karl Agell (C.O.C./Seizure/Lie Heavy/The Skull/Legions Of Doom)
95. Troy Gregory (Prong/Flotsam and Jetsam/Killing Joke/The Witches/Solo)
94. Lindsey Anderson (The Kowalskis/Vatican Commandos/Coney Island High)
93. Sal Canzonieri (Electric Frankenstein/The Thing) – Part 2
92. Tom Wallace (Guild of Others)
91. B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz) – Part 3
90. Tommy B. (Squad Car Vandals/The Clubhouse)
89. B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz) – Part 2
88. Dan Lorenzo (Hades/Non-Fiction/Patriarchs In Black)
87. John Bomber (Seizure/Sonic Supercharger 66/Dumpster Dive zine) – Part 2
86. John Bomber (Seizure/Sonic Supercharger 66/Dumpster Dive zine) – Part 1
85. Ron Keel (Keel/Steeler/Black Sabbath/Solo)
84. B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz) - Part 1
83. Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff)
82. Rev. Chad Wells (The Jackalopes/Cricketbows/The Creepy Crawlers)
81. Afzaal Deen (Crisis/Stalwart/Master’s Ashes)
80. Matt G. Paradise (The Accusation Network)
79. Tracy Bonham
78. Victor Poison-Tete (Rat At Rat R)
77. Chris Frieri (My 3 Sons/Buy Our Records/Ghost Limb Films)
76. Phil Caivano (Monster Magnet/Blitzspeer/Shrapnel/Solo)
75. Sal Canzonieri (Electric Frankenstein/The Thing) – Part 1
74. The History Of The Pipeline (Newark, NJ) with Emilio – Part 3
73. Alex Smith (Music Journalist/Blogger)
72. Mark Burgess (The Chameleons)
71. Eerie Von (Danzig/Samhain/Solo)
70. Dave Tree (TREE)
69. Ben Christo (The Sisters Of Mercy/Diamond Black)
68. Doug Vizthum (Pleased Youth/Bad Karma/Lunar Bear Ensemble)
67. Mick LoMauro (Flatus/Frankie Goes To Dollywood)
66. Jim Foster (Adrenalin O.D./Electric Frankenstein)
65. Myke Hideous (The Empire Hideous/Misfits/Spysociety99/Solo)
64. Dave Scott Schwartzman (Adrenalin O.D./Pleased Youth/Lucy's Trance)
63. Dan Canzonieri (Electric Frankenstein/Shadow Project/Empire Hideous)
62. Diane Kamikaze (WFMU/Children In Adult Jails/Rockers For Life)
61. Larry Mezzacca (Niblick Henbane/M-60)
60. Mike Fintzy (Iron Duke/Broken Heroes/The Cement Shoes)
59. Jim Wilson (Rollins Band/Mother Superior/Motor Sister/Daniel Lanois)
58. Bob Bert (Pussy Galore/Sonic Youth/Lydia Lunch/Bewitched/Solo)
57. David Humphrey (PiL/Sparks/Mike Oldfield/Solo)
56. The History of THE PIPELINE (Newark, NJ) with Emilio – Part 2
55. Lenny Sblendorio (Bedlam/Hearse/Buy Our Records)
54. Rob Kabula (Agnostic Front/Cause For Alarm) and A.G. of Dead Blow Hammer
53. Jersey Pete (Broken Heroes/Vibram 94)
52. Scott Wilkins (Verbal Abuse/Electric Frankenstein/Infamous Stiffs)
51. Paul Richard (Adrenalin O.D./The Kowalskis/Sux/Fear Gods)
50. Mike Peters (The Alarm)
49. Steve Kilbey (The Church)
48. The History of The Pipeline (Newark, NJ) with Emilio – Part 1
47. Jason Shapiro (Redd Kross/Verbal Abuse/Celebrity Skin)
46. Martin Bowes (Attrition/Pigface)
45. Pete “Joyless” Jones (PiL/Brian Brain/Department S/Solo)
44. Rikk Agnew (Christian Death/Symbolism/The Adolescents/Solo)
43. Eric McWhorter (Modiviccan/Project .44/W.O.R.M/Pigface)
42. Jack Steeples (Adrenalin O.D./Fear Gods/Mental Decay)
41. KAV (Blitz Vega/Happy Mondays/Solo)
40. Courtney Taylor-Taylor (The Dandy Warhols)
39. Gaelynn Lea (Solo/Pigface/The Murder of Crows)
38. Bruce Duff (Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs/ADZ/45 Grave/Twisted Roots)
37. Tim Miller (Blanks 77/Broken Heroes)
36. Becky Wreck (Lunachicks/Teknofear/La Muerte/Witch Rose)
35. Meg Lee Chin (Pigface/Teknofear/Crunch/Solo)
34. Mark McKay (Slapshot/The Long Wait)
33. Willie “Loco” Alexander
32. Jesse Hunt (Cyanotic/Pigface/Hunt Hent Hawk)
31. Jack Russell (Jack Russell’s Great White)
30. Naomi Yang (Galaxie 500/Damon & Naomi)
29. Frank Verga (Impulse Control Disorder)
28. Larry Kelley (Kilslug/Groinoids/Ointment/Up Your Bucket)
27. Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four)
26. John Steele (Voice Of Doom/Electric Frankenstein)
25. Rob Moss (Government Issue/Artificial Peace/Solo)
24. Mike Reidy (W.O.R.M/Pigface/TR8)
23. Tommy Koprowski (Mourning Noise/Bedlam/Sux/Mental Decay)
22. Charles Levi (Thrill Kill Kult/Pigface/The Urban Soundtrack)
21. Gitane DeMone and Paul Roessler
20. Chris Haskett (Rollins Band/Pigface/Solo)
19. Bellhead
18. Craig Gray (Lazy Giants/Toiling Midgets/Negative Trend)
17. Roger Ebner (Pigface/Bile/Solo)
16. Tony Marsico (Cruzados/The Plugz/Martini Kings/Solo)
15. Steve Silver (Author/Tour Manager: Ministry/Killing Joke/Pigface)
14. Tristan D’Graves (Incendiary Device/Sunchild/The Undead)
13. Loren Molinare (The Dogs/Little Caesar/Cruzados/Slamdinistas)
12. Martin King (Pigface/Test Dept/Dogtablet)
11. IGAF sequoia
10. Steve Zing (Danzig/Mourning Noise/Samhain/Blak29)
09. Matt Schultz (Pigface/Lab Report/The Division)
08. Richard Duguay (Personality Crisis/Duff McKagan/Solo)
07. Drew Stone (Musician-Filmmaker-Author: Incendiary Device/NYHC Chronicles)
06. Frank Meyer (Director: “Freestyle 101: Hip-Hop History”)
05. Greg Kuehn (T.S.O.L.)
04. Jack Grisham (T.S.O.L./Tender Fury)
03. Michael Abdow (Fates Warning/Ray Alder/Solo)
02. Fred Schreck (The Ancients)
01. The Viking (Warkings)



EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with ALAN TECCHIO and FRANK WHITE ("JERSEY METAL" BOOK)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with famed photographer Frank White and veteran singer Alan Tecchio (Hades/Non-Fiction/Watchtower/Autumn Hour/Level Fields) about their book Jersey Metal: Volume One, a history of the Garden State’s heavy metal scene from 1969 to 1986.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with ANYTHING BOX

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Claude Strillo and Mike Zacek of Anything Box about the mid ‘80s underground music scene in New Jersey, the group’s experience on a major label and more recent activities, and Strillo’s upcoming Anything Box performance at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with REG BLOOR (GLENN BRANCA ENSEMBLE/PARANOID CRITICAL REVOLUTION/SOLO)


Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with experimental musician and artist Reg Bloor about her latest solo album (Viewer Discretion Is Not Advised) and her work with the Glenn Branca Ensemble, The Paranoid Critical Revolution, David Bowie, and Twitcher.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with CARNAGE ASADA

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Dave Travis and David O. Jones of Los Angeles underground music stalwarts Carnage Asada about the upcoming release of the band's first album in 25 years, the current state of the LA music scene, and the legacy of late Carnage Asada bassist Chris Stein (Saccharine Trust).

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with KARL AGELL (C.O.C./SEIZURE/LIE HEAVY/THE SKULL/LEGIONS OF DOOM)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran singer Karl Agell (Corrosion of Conformity/School of Violence/Seizure/Leadfoot/King Hitter/COC Blind/Teenage Time Killers/Patriarchs in Black/LIE HEAVY/The Skull/Legions of Doom) and his decades-long history in music.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with TROY GREGORY (PRONG/FLOTSAM AND JETSAM/KILLING JOKE/THE WITCHES/SOLO)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran musician Troy Gregory (Prong/Flotsam and Jetsam/The Witches/Killing Joke/Swans/The Dirtbombs/Crime and the City Solution/Super Birthday/Rodriguez/Nathaniel Mayer/Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters/Solo) about his eclectic career and upcoming solo album.

Links in the video description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with LINDSEY ANDERSON (THE KOWALSKIS/VATICAN COMMANDOS/CONEY ISLAND HIGH)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran musician and DJ Lindsey Anderson (The Kowalskis/Killer Kowalski/Vatican Commandos/Starkist/The Drags/Kitty and the Kowalskis/Kitty and the Manges/Vicious Cobain) about her history in music and the glory years of Coney Island High, the NYC club she co-owned in the '90s.

Links in the Video Description




EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Sunday, August 11, 2024

Interview #2 with SAL CANZONIERI (ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN/THE THING)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten welcomes back veteran guitarist Sal Canzonieri (Electric Frankenstein/The Thing/Kung Fu Killers/Maggot SS/Doom Patrol) to discuss his two groundbreaking compilation series, A Fistful of Rock N' Roll and A Fistful More of Rock N' Roll.

Links in the Video Description





EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview with TOM WALLACE (GUILD OF OTHERS)

Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran drummer Tom Wallace of Guild of Others, a musical partnership with guitarist Steve Potts that has included contributions from Tony Franklin (The Firm/Blue Murder), Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo/Dream Theater/Black Country Communion), Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper Group), Craig Goldy (Dio/Giuffria/Resurrection Kings), Michael Sadler (Saga), Henrik Bath (Darkwater), and Mark Hammond.

Links in the Video Description






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com


Interview Pt. 3 with B.T. (THE WRETCHED ONES/THE BURNT/ARTESANZ)

In this third installment of a three-part interview, author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with guitarist and New Jersey Punk/Oi! music scene veteran B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz/DogHouse Swine) about his work in Artesanz and DogHouse Swine, the early days of M.O.D. with Billy Milano, and more.

Links in the Video Description






EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com