1999/09/30, State Theater, Detroit, MI, USA

Written by Aaron (scooke@gcfn.org) for Dominion mailing list

OK. I was there. I just got back home to Columbus. So anyway. The big news would be that they started with Temple of Love and 1st encore was Comfortably Numb/SKOS. Other than that, pretty much the same but no Flood 2. Oh yeah, they played War on Drugs also. Sound was excellent, much better than Phily 97 in my opinion.

I was right next to the stage so vocals could have been louder but I assume they sounded better further back. Eldritch seemed to be in a good mood and talked quite a bit to a group of people on the other side of the stage but I couldn't make out most of what he said. Hardcover Postcards and 2 issues of UTR were sold out after the show so buy your stuff early!

Security was very thorough. I intended to tape the show but I actually wouldn't have been able to get my minidisc through the door. They even had me take my keys out and show them. There was some crowd surfing and a tiny mosh pit during one song. Overall, I think it was an excellent Sisters show. If you want to know anything else in particular, just ask and I'll answer if I know. And if anyone wants to trade a hardcover signed Postcards from above the Chemist for the little squeeze bottle top eldritch threw out that I caught, just let me know.

Written by Matthew B McNutt (mcnuttm@dteenergy.com) for The Sisters of Mercy Tours site

Last night's show was great! Third time seeing The Sisters, and this was their best outing. Finally heard them play Comfortably Numb/Some Kind of Stranger.

Ribbons, Giving Ground and On The Wire were show highlights for me. The lighting was wonderful along with the sound system. Place was sold out, and the crowd was Okay. To many people their dressing up to fit in, looking just ridiculous, and not knowing many of the songs or even some history of the band. Von looked good and sounded great, but needs to put on a few pounds. Too bad Mr. Hussey wasn't on guitar, would have been 2X the show! Maybe one day?

Written by Michelle Davis (michelle@danu.ili.net) for Dominion mailing list

I was listening to Planet 96.3's Big Sonic Heaven in Detroit (awesome radio show) and both of the DJs went to the show and were saying how bad it is, and they were saying they had a very good source of someone who was IN the soundbooth and basically they were told everything INCLUDING vocals came off of a DAT tape.

Written by Nige Lites (nigelites@hotmail.com) for Dominion mailing list

Andrews Vocals are Live.
Adams Vocals are Live.
The Guitars are Live.
The output of the Doktor comes up on numerous channels for the different instruments that he Plays.

There is a multi track Dat that RECORDS separately Vocals, Guitars, etc.

Written by eldritch@nme.com for Dominion mailing list

To suggest that the Sisters of Mercy do not perform live and instead treat their audiences to prerecorded tracks coming off a dat player is simply fucking ludicrous. The only prerecorded part of the show is the INTRO. All the vocals and guitars are completely live. All the drums, bass and strings are triggered via midi by none other than Dr. Avalanche.

If you have any doubts check out a soundcheck on the day of a show. I had a wonderful opportunity to hear an instrumental version of Flood I last week with one of the roadies counting 1,2,3,4 over and over again along with the track. Strangely enough I didn't hear the guitars or Andrew's vocals during this version. Go fucking figure.

The most basic thing about dat is that it is a stereo mix - meaning it is not possible to separate the audio tracks. If you listen closely during Sisters concerts you'll notice volume adjustments being made as the band is performing in front of you. You'll also hear feedback and occasionally the guitarists playing between songs (Mike's ending to Vision Thing in Toronto is a fine example, or even better, listen to Adam's intro to Flood II).

Written by Christian (goth@berlinoffice.com) for Dominion mailing list

I see it the same way. If you listen carefully to both, Von's singing and the music, you should realize that it CAN'T be from DAT. Everyone who was on the gig in Stavenhagen, 04.07.98, can confirm this. Andrew lost totally the lyrics for "Vision Thing" and the song continued as instrumental for a while. Even Adam was not bale to rescue the song with his singing...

Well, I will not doubt that some guitar lines came from DAT, too - but that's only usual. To say the whole show wasn't live is totally bullshit! Did anybody think that the whole "Sister Ray" thing, which is not more than a jam session with improvised parts of lyrics came from DAT? Ha, ha!

Written by Sean Cooke (scooke@gcfn.org) for Dominion mailing list

If Eldritch was lip synching in Detroit, it was the best job I've ever seen.