Heartland

Warning a Sisters Rant! Step away while you can..

So..The Sisters are back on the warpath. And the complaints are pouring in. Don’t get me wrong, I have a love / hate relationship with them too. (':twisted:')

So, we have to get a few facts correct. This band, which is touring now are not the Sisters of Mercy from 1980-1985. Correct? Not only that but technology has changed, people have aged and memories have faded. Hell, it is not even the same band(s) as the 90ies.

Do I love this modern version? At times yes and sometimes I treasure my memories. I do hate that Ben and Chris are so audible as backing vocalists, I hate the machine bass and sometimes I think Eldritch voice is p*ss weak. But other times…even in these past ten years, they surprise me, they rearrange old classics, perform some bonkers covers(Phantom of the Opera?) , dust off old songs and even sometimes perform new material. And sometimes Eldritch voice still shines and shimmers and gives me Goosebumps as he did in the 90ies and 80ies.

Fact, if you come to see a band which has been around 30 odd years they will not sound the same. If you want that go see an Elvis 3d show. Fact, the songs you once loved and cherished will not sound the same ever, simply cos the singer is now 56, the tech is different and there are different people in the band. So, throw out that expectation. DO we want them to sound crisp and play perfectly? Sure. Did they do so in the 80ies.. mhh doubt that. (':D')

Even if I prefer the 90ies live shows where Eldritch growled and whined and the sound was crisp and clear and there were chills among the spine, I do admire the fact that The Sisters still go on the war path. I believe Eldritch has nothing left to prove or even needs to tour. Why he does it..I don’t know, for us fans? Dunno.. Fact is, they are out there, and yes sometimes it is foggy and the singer sounds like a frog and the backing vocals are loud and annoying and the old songs sound butchered and there are not enough new songs, the old songs are rearranged and, and… Oh hell this time they do 1959, valentine and what not. Hey they do not sound so bad. Hey, they sound better than some of these “new “rock bands. Damn, I love my memories but hey what a fun party this gig is. Let’s celebrate the band that wrote such amazing songs they are part of my life now…

Then again…if you do have high expectations and expect all to be like the 80ies (or 90ies) and expect great vocals, to see the drummer, hear the new cd, want the songs to sound the same, want no errors… if you want all that, you can complain…But it will just not happen. No band will sound the same as 30 years ago. You can leave, or listen to the records…or cherish the memories…or let go and just enjoy the great perfect mess of a machine that is the Sisters of Mercy. And yes it can be a shambles, and yes they can ruin our memories, songs..but hey..afterwards complain a little javascript:emoticon(';D')
(oh no he forgot the lyrics, his voice did sound a bit shabby…what a poser Ben is.. lol) But why complain if you expect the past? You will never get that…This is the Sisters of Mercy 2015, it is a show, it is entertainment, they are here to amuse, sit back and enjoy the floorshow…

All I know for sure is that the recent shows l've seen have been great. Back in the day some were great also. Some were not. I wouldn't travel the distances l do to see anyone else. To my mind still cuts the mustard.

Well said that mandrake

If you seriously expect to get the Sisters of old, replete with frock coats, ponchos & floppy hats, promoting a new album, then you are barking up the wrong tree.

Instead you’ll get the Sisters of “now� playing a collection of re-imagined classics with the occasional rarity thrown in for good measure to a room full of folks that, the band must assume, (on account of them shelling out for tickets & turning up) enjoy their shows.

Fair enough if that doesn’t float your boat anymore & I honestly think Von couldn’t give a hoot for the haters either.

Fact is, we know what we’re getting & are still glad to see The Sisters Rev. twiddly umpty whatever still going out on the road rather than remaining static, waiting to be encased in amber so that some mad scientist can resurrect them in a few million years for some sort of goth theme park.

got it - basically you are saying that it's pretty crap and really just a good excuse to meet up with some mates and have a night away from the kids

yes sometimes it is foggy and the singer sounds like a frog and the backing vocals are loud and annoying and the old songs sound butchered and there are not enough new songs, the old songs are rearranged and, and.......

deirfiur wrote:got it - basically you are saying that it's pretty crap and really just a good excuse to meet up with some mates and have a night away from the kids

I think you just missed the point here...

There's still the temptation to be all like "Meh, it's not really the Sisters any more is it blah blah blah"

But then you go to see them...

...the Doktor starts pounding, and the thrill runs up your back...

...yeah. It's the Sisters.

mandrake wrote:Warning a Sisters Rant! etc....

Where's the 'like' button?

like like like like

Agreed. LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE
Hadn't seen them since the 90s and after Glasgow & Leeds just can't stop grinning....great energy. The guys, including Andrew (Von-SimileyFace), looked like they were having fun.

So there aren't the same as they were in the 80's. That isn't a bad thing.

I'm not the same as I was in the 80's either. Also not a bad thing.

I totally agree and me meself had a kind of simular rant to someone who was whining about the recent Sisters performances.I've enjoys the last 2 tours and also met some really nice interesting people in Tienen this year.
See ya on the next gigs

I have to confess that I went to Glasgow with pretty low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised.
No, it's not like it was back in the day, but it's none too shoddy either.


Mind you, I really enjoyed Black Moth as well.

Totally agree with all the comments here. Really refreshing to read such positivity.
Have been particularly pleased to see Von in top form on this tour.
In the last couple of years he seemed to have aged a lot and struggled with the shows a bit, both in terms of the quality of his voice and his ability to do a full set.
Chris in particular seemed to be doing more vocals, there were a couple of instrumentals each night to give the old fella a break, chat between songs seemed to be reduced to Nephlimesque proportions, and I went to Glasgow on Monday fearing I would see a further decline. Instead, he seemed well up for the gig and lasted the pace better than most of the crowd to be honest!
And yes, I enjoyed Black Moth too ! (And thanks to Dawnrazor67 who posted their first song from Glasgow on YT https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f56mIDs1C-E )

You want rant?

I don't remember many complaints about them not sounding like they did in the old days. I remember lots of complaints (including several from myself, which is why I don't go any more) about them not sounding like anything at all cos you can't hear them. The fact that there are some shows where you can isn't much consolation if you spent your money going to one of the many where you can't. If a band can't be relied on to deliver a show that the audience can at least hear every time, they're not doing their jobs and they're taking people's money without giving them anything in return. The Sisters need to have the common decency to address that very big issue and put it right.

they even acknowledge that the previous time they played in your town they sounded silent, they officially make a claim that this time its gonna be louder. and then? you hear everyone in your ten meter perimeter whispering.

but hey, some towns are luckier than others.

some folks arent going to different bands and djs all year long.

but hey, some hated 90s concerts, some love chris catalyst and his backing vocals.

each to his own.

i just hate when someone gets a ban just because he offered a not so positive and pink-shades-on opinion.

dont forget to make a thousand smilies. ffs.

i mean, dont force others to share your worldview, offer it. dont push it. data are data, facts are facts. the decibels are gone. except sometimes. some lucky towns. some lucky people. never envy always wish for.

panzerfaust wrote:i just hate when someone gets a ban just because he offered a not so positive and pink-shades-on opinion.

Not what happened. And you know it.

stufarq wrote:You want rant?

I don't remember many anything in return. The Sisters need to have the common decency to address that very big issue and put it right.

Also true and I understand where you are coming from.

I'm just happy I chose this tour to end my nearly 20-year sisters drought!

EmmaPeelWannaBe wrote:I'm just happy I chose this tour to end my nearly 20-year sisters drought!

Already 2011 would have been a good choice, though now ... Yeah ! ... ...

For me it's a pleasure to see that they're continiously doing something about their show, their setlist, their sound and everything ... ...

Always thinking up new aspects and improvements can never be boring ... ...


Back to the topic of rants ... without a good rant at times we would stifle and
never know, what could be done to improve things. Also those who dish out,
gotta be able to take their lot as well and we're all no choristers. Freedom of
opinion is a high value that should count for all Sisters aficionados, however,
and personal attacks (or even threats) that have nothing to do with the topic
at discussion should clearly be a no go.

EDIT:
I've deleted the part that was fully superflous and off-topic.

I would have to say that the biggest problem I've found at the two shows I've attended so far this week (Leeds and Nottingham) is folks who obviously don't get to many gigs at all turning up two hours after the doors have opened then moaning that there isn't any room.
Leeds was too crowded for me but down at the front for FALAA there was room to move but when I went back out it was almost impossible to get back in because people walked inside the hall then just stopped.
Soundwise the Girls sound the best they have for donkeys years. Looking forward to the next two gigs . I doubt I will be disappointed.

mandrake wrote:

stufarq wrote:You want rant?

I don't remember many anything in return. The Sisters need to have the common decency to address that very big issue and put it right.

Also true and I understand where you are coming from.

And in fairness, I agree entirely with your point about not expecting bands to sound like they did way back when.

To be honest, i haven't listened to their music in years. It's in my system. I check the forum frequently and when they show up in town, i see them and enjoy it. Far more than any live set of bands / musicians i listen to daily.

Although i hope that the shows will attract new fresh fans in the end. Saw Bunnymen live the other day and seeing the audience was like visiting a museum of Pompeii.

I think they're trying more, which must be a good thing, even if it isn't always right