1999/10/08, The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Written by Yanic Vida (YanicV@aol.com) for The Sisters of Mercy Tours site

This year the Sisters played at the Wiltern; for those who are not familiar with the Wiltern, it's a nice, old and pretty small venue (2200 seats) with a large mezzanine, located in Koreatown. My wife and I were seated at center of the very first row, needless to say that we had an amazing experience. The sound was much better that at the Palladium in 98. In my opinion, not so much because of Dr. Avalanche's upgrades or other technical improvements from the Sisters, but simply because this venue has a far superior acoustic. Another cool thing about this venue is that the security was pretty loose. Which means that I was able to sneak in a small camera and to take a bunch of pictures with flash.

The supporting act, Tube, was not very interesting to say the least, a mix of different types of electronic sounds, all of which we've heard a million times before.

We already drunk before we arrived at the concert but decided to have a few more drinks at the bar before the Sisters would hit the stage. About 10 minutes after the first act left the stage, the lights in the lobby started blinking and we regained our seats. After about 10 minutes of intro, and enough smoke that I could barely make out Eldritch's mike which was about 3 ft away from me, Von and the boys went on stage.

Most of the songs were simply amazing. I think starting the concert with Ribbons was an excellent choice even better the First and Last and Always. Suzanne was better than any other versions I've heard. However, I couldn't help to feel especially moved by the classics. I had no idea how Flood I would sound live, and it was even more powerful than anything I imagined. During most of the concert, I was standing almost alone in front of Andrew. I had a feeling the whole show was just given for me and maybe the few persons around me. I was kind of expecting them to play the CN/SKOS medley for the first encore, but instead they played Vision Thing that I never heard live. Even Vision Thing, which is not among my favorite songs, was really great to see live. No surprise for the closing song, Corrosion, excellent as usual.

Most people around me stayed seated until Dominion, and didn't get back to their seat after. I was surprised to be the only person really moving considering we were only about a dozen people at a place where a hundred could have been standing. For the rest of the crowd I don't know much. I was enjoying so much every single second of the concert that I only turned around three times during the whole gig to see what was going on behind us (two of which were before both encores).

Eldritch didn't fail to the tradition of sharing his booze with the crowd. He handed the first bottle to some guy standing on my left. This guy passed the bottle to a girl on his left and the bottle kept traveling left with every one having a sip of the drink as in a religious ceremony. The communion kept going for a while until the bottle reached my wife and finally me. I first had a big gulp of the cranberry mix, which was really good by the way. Then, not seeing anyone within reach looking to join in the spiritual union, I just downed the rest and kept the bottle.

Eldritch threw the second bottle at the pit a few minutes later and a guy on my right tried to grab it but missed and sent the bottle rolling on the floor. I rushed to get it but he was faster. He first shook the bottle frantically toward the stage but didn't manage to splash the band. He then got kicked out of the place by the security and came back a few minutes later much less exited. By the end of the concert my wife and I each got a song list so we gave one of them away to a guy.

After the concert, we were waiting for them to get out with about a dozen other guys when two persons asked my wife and I if we wanted their backstage passes. Less than a minute later we were at the after concert party. Unfortunately, the only person we really wanted to see wasn't there. We knew about the other room located on the second floor but we didn't seem to be very welcomed to go up there. So we talked with both Adam and Mike, agreeing that this year's LA concert was better than the Event Horizon one. They both signed my Some Girls CD cover.

We then left the party and waited by the bus for a few minutes, Andrew arrived, I asked him if he could sign my CD cover but he ignored me, hiding his face with a record. This kind of sucked, especially that I was alone at this point. We waited for him to get out, staring at the "beware of dogs" sign posted on the door's window, but in vain. We then watched the bus slowly living the parking lot and we left carrying our newly acquired memorabilia.

Written by BenFlores@aol.com for The Sisters of Mercy Tours site

This would be my second show of the tour. The Wiltern theatre in Los Angeles. Much different than the Warfield in San Francisco. I think it lacks the mystique of the Warfield, but then again the acoustics and sound are fantastic. This would be my second show at the Wiltern and the sound quality is excellent. Everything would go off much the same as the Warfield show. This tour is working like clock work by now. Tube comes on and goes off without much complication. Though this time, I listen to Tube from the lobby. I'm spending a little bit of time with an alcoholic beverage. The lights start to flicker out in the lobby. Which means on with the show.

The Sisters come out to the same intro. A very cool new age piece that I never seem to remember. I'm about seven rows back from the stage, and standing right in front of Mike. From this vantage point, I can really take advantage of their light show. They have a huge jungle gym set up, which has been called the Temple of Love. It spans the entire back stage, and is rectangular shaped. It raises up about 15 feet high, and helps give off the greatest light show known to rock and roll.

The set list is the same as the San Francisco show, with no exceptions. I think Temple of Love was a highlight from this night. I also enjoyed Giving Ground quite a bit. Adam seems to be really hot this night. He's giving the tracks a whole different meaning. Playing fantastic solos and really nice add on guitar riffs. Mike is still Mike. An energy blast from the past. That really enjoys rocking the favs. The crowd is not as excitable as the San Francisco crowd, but holding it's own quite nice.

The new stuff is still brilliant, with Suzanne and Romeo Down being the highlights for me. They do the same encores again. Two separate encores, consisting of two songs in each. Vision Thing is the perfect encore number, while Something Fast sounds better then ever. The crowd cheers madly after the second encore is completed, but the Sisters do not return. I've heard rumors of a third encore in Philadelphia, but its just a rumor. I'm hoping someday to hear their interpretation of Sister Ray, but it wasn't to be tonight. I head for the exits content.

Written by Matthew Redman (matt_redman@hotmail.com) for Dominion mailing list

OK, Tube was OK, nothing great but not bad. The place was totally empty during and right after his set. The Sisters took the stage about 10 minutes after Tube left (which is incredible - we usually have to wait 30 to 45 minutes). The Tangerine Dream song went on for quit a long but and then they came out and right into Ribbons. They didn't use Afterhours... I was hoping they would cause I just love that part. I was in the 5th row and pretty much everyone in front of me was sitting down.

Ribbons seemed to lack something but that was the only song I thought was lacking. Giving Ground was excellent. They cut a lot out of the beginning to Romeo Down. But he screamed quite a bit during the song. I didn't even recognize Flood I till Andy started singing. I like it... it sounds quit different from the album... it has a different feel to it, a little harsher and meaner.

He mentioned something about the strange looking people. He really didn't talk too much during the show.

All pictures on this page were taken and scanned by Yanic Vida (YanicV@aol.com) for The Sisters of Mercy Tours site