March gets his Goth on....

Okay a little set up. Bauhaus is a band that pretty much (at least in my mind)defined goth music. What is goth..think Marilyn Manson only cooler. Anyhow, they lasted only a few years and disbanded (for the first time) in 1983. As I was getting into my older highschool years I'd spend some time with their stuff and I always remember seeing their "import" cds as newbury comics. Simple cover art with huge sticker prices. A few years ago the guys toured again and this is yet another one of those "we love money more than we hate each other" tours. After the band broke up (the first time) 3 of the guys did Tones on Tail and then Love and Rockets (remember "So Alive", No New tale to tell?". Peter Murphy released some solo records as did David J (bass) and Daniel Ash (guitar). Nothing (barring early L+Rockets) was really worth the time IMO.

Fast forward to a week or so ago and I get an email that simply read "Bela Lugosi is dead" and the text was "Got free tickets you wanna go". A friend from highschool had the hookup..why not I'll go check em out.

We made our way into the city and headed over to the Orpheum. I can't think of the last time I was there (moe. after 9/11??) It was pretty funny to look at all the aging hipsters with their long black coats on and silly hairdo's etc. Where do these people work???! My bud steve said it best "they are baristas at Starbucks". It was flat out SILLY how stupid some of these people looked. I am all for being your own person..IN HIGH SCHOOL! I am talking 35 year old dudes that dusted off the leather jacket and put on mascara etc. Can't you just go to a show and not dress up like a fool?

There were no opening act so the band took the stage right about 8pm. It was as I expected lots of single spot lights, smoke machines and strobes. All in all it was a pretty great show. David J (bass) is far better than I ever remembered. He was just as tight as a drum on the low end. Kevin Haskins (Drums who is actually Davids brother) was not over the top but held it all together. Daniel Ash played guitar and sax and tossed in some vocals here and there. Peter Murphy looked like he was 8 feet tall and only seemed to grow as the show went along. The highlights were She's In parties, Stigmata Martyr and of course the epic Bela Lugosi's Dead. The one real cool thing they could have done was a repeat of what they did at Cochella this year when they played Bela. The nine plus minute tune had Peter Murphy hanging upside down like a bat for the whole thing. The one downpoint was the band near the end of the main set stopped for 2-3 minutes and just waited for the crowd to cheer. It was one of those over indulgent "clap and go crazy for us until we feel like we have had enough". It was kind of a waste and a little out of their style, at least, that is what I felt.

Hell it was free I can't complain. Thanks to Steve for the ticket.

Set list if ya care.

Intro.

--Band Comes On Stage--

Burning From The Inside
In The Flat Field
A God In An Alcove
In Fear Of Fear
Terror Couple Kills Colonel
Swing The Heartache
She's In Parties
The Passion Of Lovers
Silent Hedges
Kick In The Eye
Hollow Hills
Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores
Stigmata Martyr
** On Stage Awaiting Crowd Reaction--
Hair Of The Dog
Dark Entries

--Band Leaves and Returns To Stage--

*Second Encore*
Slice Of Life
Telegram Sam
Ziggy Stardust

--Band Leaves and Returns To Stage--

*Third and Final Encore.
Bela Lugosi's Dead