This weekend ended with the smog slowly descending down the Santa Monica Mountains in Griffith Park as The Cult took the stage at Los Angeles’s very own iconic Greek Theater. I love when a headliner supports and uplifts their fellow musicians with a stuffed bill of bands the headliner loves. Please read on for our full review of the event below.

That evening's curated lineup included Skeleton Joe, King Woman, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and of course the glam metal gods themselves, The Cult. Skeleton Joe is a recent project of former The Icarus Line frontman Joe Cardamone. Skeleton Joe has released one collaborative album with former Screaming Trees singer and member of many many other projects Mark Lanegan (RIP) called Dark Mark vs Skeleton Joe. The dance goth project was released only several months before Mark Lanegan’s untimely death on Rare Bird Recordings. Joe didn't have much time on stage due to there being three more bands coming on after them and some technical issues cut their 20 minute set to a 15 minute set but once they got going the groove kicked in right away. The visuals were nice but the icing on the cake was the troupe of dancers in white robes flailing around up until the last song was cut off halfway through to the surprise of everyone on stage. 

King Woman is the more recent doom metal project from prolific and genre hopping Bay Area singer/songwriter Kristina Esfandiari. With a slightly longer set time than the first opener they walked out bathed in blue lights which they quickly asked for less of to the point you could barely see the band even though the sun was not fully down yet. The ambiance plus King Woman’s sludgy approach to doom metal sucked you into a brief trance that you popped right out of when the house lights popped back on. If you were also an Indie Kid in the early 2000s you remember the garage rock revival either fondly or with disgust. I fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum at pretty much anytime. 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (or BRMC) are a fuzzed out duo of indie rock veterans started in San Francisco in the late 90s that eventually phased in some Americana flare when The Jesus And Mary Chain worship was starting to feel used up (Plus! The JAMC got back together in 2007). They played as loud as they were allowed to (95dbs according to the band & 1k for every minute they go over that limit) and before you know it they were off the stage as quickly they were on it. 

Walking around The Greek before, The Cult came on providing an interesting sight to concert goers. It was the most Mötley Crüe shirts that I have ever seen in such a small area that wasn't The Viper Room and a lot of expensive looking new leather purchases. These dudes were hyped and drunk. The smell of beer whenever I took off my mask was pungent. These people were slowly being taken back to their glory days and they oved every second of it, they were all on the same vibe, and when the band walked out frontman Ian Astbury made sure to keep the vibes in check. The glam rockers came out hard and loud with a fanbase that was losing their minds. Guitar solo after guitar solo after guitar solo felt like I was being sucked into this very specific 80’s hole of not cool enough for Bauhaus but too lame for The Crüe. Trying to just ride the wave I followed the lead of the boomers around me singing along to every word (except for their very recently released new album!) and playing air guitar to every solo. I was quickly more entertained by the crowd reactions to the band than to the band themselves just riding the vibe till I left a little early to beat the rush down the mountain.

All in all, it was a completely memorable night and a perfect way to enjoy the evening in Los Angeles. If The Cult happen to come near you, it’s certainly a show not worth missing!

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