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The Sisters of Mercy, Rock City. 19th November 2023

Now if there’s one issue with being a Sisters fan these days. It’s that Andrew Eldritch refuses to record. It means that unless you’re happy to trawl the hours of YouTube footage of substandard live recordings, there’ll be big chunks of a set you just don’t know that well. This wasn’t an issue 20 plus years ago, but it is now. I’ve learnt to embrace it, but it’s always clear that much of the audience of left a little bemused. It’s a packed crowd though, sold out I think. This is my first trip to Rock City and I like it. Granted it’s a bit disorientating to a new visitor. Spilt over three levels with a rabbit warren of connecting stairs. It reminds me a little of Manchester’s Apollo, but all standing, much darker and definitely cosier.


The Virgin Mary’s are supporting. A power chord punk duo. They’re not very goth, but sound pretty decent and the drummer keeps  banging shades out of a giant suspended school bell. He looks like he’s having a great time, they both do. The lad weilding the guitar has a cracking set of pipes and puts everything in to it. I wouldn’t say they’ve massive range, but it’s certainly not one hook that a lot of bands like this fall into. They keep you on your toes.


I’ve got the temperature of this venue all wrong. So after shedding a couple of layers and decamping from behind the sound desk to try and find a better vantage point… I give up. It’s uncomfortably busy and everyone’s packed in like sheep. I don’t mind big busy crowds, I’m used to it, but unless you’re 6ft or happy to get in early down the front and not move, you’re a bit buggered. I find a spot though and settle in. Eldritch sounds great as usual as they open with Doctor Jeep melting into Detonation Boulevard. It’s clear the idea is to smash through the set ‘Don’t Drive On Ice’ is pretty catchy, which can’t be said for ‘Ribbons’ really, but that pounding backline sure sounds good. One of my favourites breaks the fug, ‘Alice’ is a cksssic. It’s over too soon, but sounds great. If the view isn’t, at least the sound is decent. Everyone’s in sunglasses looking cool as fuck and handy and they deliver the slightly dirgy ‘Summer’. Hands  are finally up for ‘More’. Eldritch stalks and Doctor Avalanche’s handler Chris is rooted but the two guitarist work the stage. Especially Kai who bounces around clearly loving it. Picked out in the spotlight, Eldritch croons the even more sombre ‘Marian’. It’s pretty brilliant, surprisingly so seeing as I don’t really like the song. It heralds that general malaise though that can settle on a Sisters gig as the more obscure stuff comes out. I like it, although I’ll admit even I’m fuzzy on some titles. That doesn’t matter though, with the drum machine behind them (actually MacBooks these days), Sisters have a sound and stick to it. Meaning you’re never really lost, even if you can’t sing along. Still it doesn’t help the atmosphere for those who maybe only come out to a couple of gigs a year. The guy a few bodies in front of me certainly isn’t happy, whining during ‘Here’ that this is shit. It’s not, he’s just a miserable fuck. ‘On The Beach’ doesn’t cheer him up as he tries to pick a fight with a woman trying to get past him, pushing her in the back. He doesn’t do this with the blokes. Anyway back to the band, ‘When I’m On Fire’ sounds bloody massive. The stage bathed in orange light, I swear the guy behind me squeals in delight and everyone around is pretty chuffed when a security guard has a word with the miserable fuck and puts him in his place. Should’ve kicked him out. ‘Temple of Love’ helps too. A sea of phones come out and the place comes alive. It’s a shame it’s not like this all the way though, especially as it’s the fake last song. They’re back for the encore of course. I say of course, it’s not guaranteed, but return they do and with a trio of hits. ‘Dominion / Mother Russia’ cranks things up, with an unlikely if not full throated sax solo intro. It, is, brilliant! ‘Lucretia My Reflection’ follows it. Slightly more melodic, there’s a slight warmth to it that really works… plus it’s a fucking banger and it goes off. The sax is back too and fits right in as its coda extends. Eldritch stock still, nodding his approval as he surveys his domain. It’s ’This Corrosion’ to close. Biblical would be a good description as the place erupts. It’s a great finale and a decent set in an iconic venue. I do hear a few people grumbling though as we’re leaving and someone comes up to me, pointing at my IST IST shirt and saying how brilliant they were in Manchester last night. Seems I’m not the only one who’s travelled tonight.


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