How do you rate the Silver bullet tour ?

slicepack · 22 May 2006, 18:02

The Sisters as a concept, for me, will always be AE,Hussey & Adams, cowboy hats and industrial amounts of weapons-grade amphetamine.

Still, this tour was an absolute blast, made so by AE's obvious enjoyment of the proceedings - he was less precious about the material this time round. 2003 was a bit po-faced. I'm sure Ben & Chris are lovely blokes, but they're very average guitar players - which was a disappointment. It takes more skill than you might imagine to play rhythm guitar against a drum machine.

But I am optimistic for the future, but as an audience don't we all look middle-aged.

James Blast · 22 May 2006, 18:19

I'll be brief - 3/5/06 - A Day from Heaven

22 May 2006, 18:28

James Blast wrote:I'll be brief - 3/5/06 - A Day from Heaven

Says it all for me

Planet Dave · 22 May 2006, 18:41

James Blast wrote:I'll be brief - 3/5/06 - A Day from Heaven

Agreed, but that's got jack all to do with the tour. I'm glad they're still touring, and I'd like them to continue, but they HAVE to sort things out with the presentation. Is Von's voice likely to get any better? Will they be able to turn everything up to a level that allows it to work? I hope so, dearly.

But yeah, dunno about the tour as a whole, but for providing the occasion for one mad night in Leeds, nice one boys.

22 May 2006, 18:48

I agree the presentation needs sorting out - I would like to (hear &) see a bass player in the line up. Lucretia sounds ridiculous without.

The gig did create a nice central focal point for the night and listening to the weed of the gig it sounds excellent (apart from the bits where a bass player is obviously missing

).

What was the question sorry

James Blast · 22 May 2006, 19:00

how low can you go?

22 May 2006, 19:03

James Blast wrote:how low can you go?

Gimme_The_Ring · 22 May 2006, 19:14

I only went to the Norwich gig but I bloody loved it, it was my first Sisters gig and I'd definitely go to another!!

10/10

markreed · 22 May 2006, 19:51

Overall I'd say this line up of the band is the strongest I've seen since 1992. The Pearson/Sheenan era was stonking, but Robo/Christo is Utterly Bastard Groovy.

czuczu · 22 May 2006, 20:24

markreed wrote:Overall I'd say this line up of the band is the strongest I've seen since 1992. The Pearson/Sheenan era was stonking, but Robo/Christo is Utterly Bastard Groovy.

Yep, Ben is the new Andreas, Chris is just a new species altogether

Multifaceted · 22 May 2006, 20:29

I'm just glad they left Europe! Come to the Americas more often, damn it!

I'd give the tour 10/10 just for the scale it was on. I NEVER would have imagined they'd do something that big. I think I'd fall over and die from exhaustion if I ever attempted traveling that much...

Though I've got to say I didn't really see anyone other than Ben and Chris acting "happy", and the "audience interaction" at the two shows I attended was more like audience members harassing other audience members...haha. That was probably the only downside.

I think it's true that they lost a lot of old fans on this tour, but I'm not really sure what that means. I think the tour generated interest enough to rouse only certain fans; it seems most of the people who knew about the tour were the older/hardcore fans. There's also a lot of younger and less-hardcore fans, from experience, who put "Sisters of Mercy" on their list of favorite artists for lots of superficial (or actual) reasons, but don't follow them enough to know how strange their touring schedule is. Maybe if there would have been promotion they would have shown up, and maybe they could have contributed to a better atmosphere/better show? Not that it really matters anymore!

Purple Light · 22 May 2006, 20:36

Leeds only. F*ckin' brilliant.

I do also fear for the future though after this. Its gotta be commercial output (or at least a quite apparent move forward) or bust I think.

Drenchrom · 22 May 2006, 20:53

I saw 9 shows and really enjoyed them all (for a variety of different reasons) except London, not only for the bad sound but a couple of the guys who I went with weren't allowed in (too drunk, maybe they should have had the absinthe after the gig!).

Ben and Chris work well together, they've definitely breathed life into the group. Would love to go to the shows in June but for a couple of reasons: I need a new job and i'm about to move house.

Still a great time was had by me, the bruises have now gone thankfully!

Matt..

sisterstekland · 22 May 2006, 22:03

8 gigs, barcelona, milan, london to nottingham and barcelona on 13th may

the best one was barcelona 2 (free gig) with no hesitation.
no very happy about london gigs.

then all of them was very good as well

Francis · 22 May 2006, 22:46

All 10 gigs I saw, including the Astoria, were better than 26/10/1984. No doubt the Heartland effect and lower expectations played their part, but mainly it was due to them feeling like an energised band as opposed to one that was falling apart. They'll do for me.

czuczu · 22 May 2006, 23:06

Drenchrom wrote:Would love to go to the shows in June but

Lightweight!

RobF · 22 May 2006, 23:40

czuczu wrote:
Drenchrom wrote:Would love to go to the shows in June but

Lightweight!

Inna masochist styleeeeee, even after my previous post, I'm investigating Buda'

Dear God, what's wrong with us

czuczu · 22 May 2006, 23:48

RobF wrote:
czuczu wrote:
Drenchrom wrote:Would love to go to the shows in June but

Lightweight!
Inna masochist styleeeeee, even after my previous post, I'm investigating Buda'

Dear God, what's wrong with us

Nothing a few drinks and some fancy lights won't fix..

bobby · 23 May 2006, 09:43

I have seen 6 concerts this tour
paris : 8/10 (I'll expected too much for the first date in my country)
bruxelles : 7/10
koln : 8/10 (+1 for the kolsch bier at 1 euro)
esch sur alzette : 9/10 (andrew during top nite out !)
amsterdam : 8/10
bruxelles : 10/10 (the perfect gig)

best moment : when I recognize 'burn' in bruxelles.

worst moment : when i've paid 2*35 euros for each concert.

Badlander · 23 May 2006, 09:49

bobby wrote: worst moment : when i've paid 2*35 euros for each concert.

Ticket prices have gone through the roof indeed.

But it's not specific to the Girls.

Delilah · 23 May 2006, 11:57

Norman Hunter wrote:
Best moment? Ania

what have I done again?

Delilah · 23 May 2006, 12:06

slicepack wrote:I'm sure Ben & Chris are lovely blokes, but they're very average guitar players - which was a disappointment.

I wouldn't agree with you... I think both of them are excellent guitarists and they are so much better than for example Mr Starling. The boys rock and the sound is fresher and heavier.

For me the tour is not finished yet, coz I'm off to Poland and Bratislava for my final 2 gigs. Highlights?
1. Leeds - meeting my HL friends, visiting the famous Garage, and generally having lots of fun which ended in spontanious decision about going to Manchester (thanks to Originalgoth)
2. Cologne - one of the best birthdays ever!
3. Berlin - my favourite gig so far!
4. Florence - a party day before the gig,proper cappuccino and pizza, but the gig itself was awful

Bring on June!!!

Norman Hunter · 23 May 2006, 12:32

Delilah wrote:what have I done again?

Ah... just being you

Ocean Moves · 23 May 2006, 13:51

Have just been listening to the excellent quality recording
from Brussels night 2.

Drums/bass sound fine to me, Andrews vocal is way up high
but still recognisable, reverb etc. but Ben's guitar
contribution sounds somewhere between ponderous and mediocre
on Suzanne to down right god awful during Neverland.

On reflection, I really think that is where the sound of
this tour is let down.

If you don't feel the same way, have a listen to Mike V's
guitar playing during Suzanne from 1998. In fact, have
a listen to any boots from 1997-2003 and tell me they dont
sound nicer.

czuczu · 23 May 2006, 14:01

The new part Ben plays for the chorus is a massive kick up the arse for Suzanne (she needed it!). Wish they'd chunk up the verse a little bit too. I wasn't so convinced about Dominion & Corrosion (ignoring his Norwich confusion..) but think he brought something new to everything else.
More importantly, he plays everything slightly different every night - a good thing!