Psychedelic Furs, The Happy Mondays
House of Blues
September 25, 2009
Better than: attending the Taylor Swift show at AAC--even though rumor was Kanye was going to show up and take Swift's microphone away, again...
In front of a surprisingly large crowd, two icons of '80s and '90s alternative rock flexed their elderly muscles and impressed the amassed collection of 30-, 40- and 50-somethings at the House of Blues.
Both the Happy Mondays and the Psychedelic Furs have been through several break-ups and reformations leading up to this current tour, but in whatever form each band may take, it's the two band leaders that make all the difference.
Shaun Ryder's sneering, cocky, accented vocals and Quasimodo-like stage
presence have always been a part of what made the Happy Mondays such an
interesting experience to begin with. Older and rounder, Ryder led this
current incarnation with a brooding, stalker-like quality that somehow
worked with the band's funky aesthetic. The crowd ate up every old
school, house groove and Ryder may have even smiled a time or two.
At a bit past 10 o'clock, Richard Butler brought out a youth-infused version
of The Psychedelic Furs. Only brother and bassist Tim remains from the
original Furs, but that didn't stop this new unit from hitting the
ground running with a picture perfect version of "Love My Way."
The Furs' set list was an interesting mix of hits, should-have-been-hits and deep album cuts. Whether it was an obscure tune like "She is
Mine" (one of several numbers from the band's best effort Talk, Talk,
Talk) or one of the band's more popular numbers ("Heaven," "Pretty in
Pink," or "The Ghost in You"), the crowd roared its approval each and
every time.
Richard Butler was the obvious focal point, sashaying across the stage
during "President Gas" like a man who had arrived in a time machine
from 1984. During an intense version of "All of This and Nothing,"
Butler spit out the list of items left by an old lover like a man half
his age. Even a three-decade-old number like "Sister Europe" came
across fresh and compelling.
Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: I've been an unabashed fan of the Psychedelic Furs since
I first heard them nearly 30 years ago. Butler's vocal blend of Johnny
Rotten and David Bowie has few equals and his romantically tortured
lyrics have always struck a chord with folks falling in and out of love.
Random Note: Some fan from Austin pestered me via text message
endlessly for set list updates throughout the evening. Lucky I knew
this particular Furs fan kind of well--or else I would have had to cut
that shit out entirely. Thank the lord for texting, however; Richard
Butler himself texted me after the show to invite some buds and me back
to the tour bus for autographs and the like.
By the way: Somehow, I made it to Lee Harvey's for a nightcap and
caught some band doing Cult covers. Thought that '80s time machine
might have scooped me up as well...
