New indie-rock group Cults have already gathered up a pretty loyal following – an impressive feat considering they have only released one album. And with their catchy beats, uniquely creepy lyrics, and ‘50s pop vibes, it’s easy to see why. Their debut self-titled LP featured contagious hits like “Go Outside” and “Abducted,” catering to a wide range of fans.
Thursday, January 19 marked Cults latest show in New York, a sold-out evening at Webster Hall. The crowd trickled in a bit at a time, bringing in a small audience for first opener Dirty Fences, and a bigger crowd for the second slated act Delicate Steve. By the time Cults took to the stage the place was packed. The audience ranged from hipsters to young professionals, but everyone shared the same excitement.
Upon taking the stage it was clear that Cults embodied the same mysterious, shy, and withdrawn image that they channeled through the sound on their album. Lead singer Madeline Follin was bathed in light while the rest of the remained silhouettes, drawing attention to Follin’s her long hair and lacey dress.
Unfortunately, this image was far prettier than what happened as the concert began. While the music itself sounded great, there were some serious sound issues, and Follin’s vocals were near silent and unclear, drowned out by the backing instruments. Hit track (and my personal favorite) “Abducted” was the first song of the night, leading to some disappointment all around as the audience realized that the lyrics would go virtually unheard.
As soon as the clapping subsided shouts of, “We can’t hear you!” and, “Turn up the microphone!” began ringing out from all corners of the space. Follin seemed confused by the shouts and responded with a somewhat lost and comical, “We don’t do that song, but here’s a different one.” The miscommunication put an early damper on the night.
As the show continued, it became a bit clearer that the lack of vocals was really to blame on a mix of technical issues as well as Follin’s limited vocal skill. While the rest of the band (led by Brian Oblivion) rocked out the indie pop beats, the vocalist seemed to struggle with the songs. At various times she dipped too low to hear and then came out with an off-key note, leaving the audience puzzled and restless. The only time she really shone was during the belted out yells of “You Know What I Mean,” with came with a hard earned applause.
While the Cults album features Follin hitting high notes and holding keys, the live show under-delivered. It is unfortunate because the album is really one of the most contagious indie-rock LPs that dropped in 2011. My advice? Enjoy the recording, skip the live show. Better to keep the illusion.
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