Only three words are needed to define rock performance excellence: The Psychedelic Furs. Emotional and energetic, an amazing evening of mutual appreciation and fun.
Fall just began to be felt in the air, it was one of those evenings when we debate if wearing a jacket to the show will be too much trouble or much appreciated when walking back to the car. Turns out no jackets were required when leaving because the sold-out audience at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC never stopped moving during a completely entertaining evening that exceeded expectations.
Opening the show was a performer with a headliner’s voice. Royston Langdon, a wonderfully talented and wickedly creative singer-songwriter, didn’t walk onto the stage with name recognition as proven by the uncertain applause greeting his arrival. Wearing the clothes if Johnny Cash shopped at TJ Maxx and sunglasses clearly stolen from Weird Al’s personal collection, Royston dared the audience to dismiss him as a joke and many did. Mistake. Big mistake.
In Royston’s first eight words of the evening describing what he wanted to do to his girlfriend, Royston sucker-punched the undivided attention from the audience with a VERY loud gasp of shock (go check out the lyrics for the third track from his new and first solo EP, Chains, if you want to know!) With a voice similar to Elvis Costello with Lady Gaga’s power and Axl Rose’s range, Royston and his acoustic guitar powered through songs from his new EP, his Spacehog era, and even a cover of Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes. Royston delivered a performance that just demanded an answer as to why this man hasn’t experienced the success his talent rightfully deserves.
Everyone who grew up in the 1980s and hears the phrase “pretty in pink” will replay in their mind the same movie scene and sing the same song. You’re thinking about the kiss and singing the chorus right now, aren’t you! Undeniably, the audience of primarily 50-somethings who attended the sold-out The Psychedelic Furs show at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC were there to hear “the old songs” but this was no nostalgia show. New fans were born and love for unfamiliar new songs firmly secured with a wildly intense and passionate performance any aspiring artist should use as their measuring stick of what good looks like.The Psychedelic Furs are currently touring for their first new album in nearly 30 years, Made of Rain. The seven songs from this album included in the setlist felt perfectly at home mixed among crowd favorites such as “Heaven” and “Heartbreak Beat.” Over the course of 90 minutes, the band proved, while innovating and pushing the boundaries of what to expect from The Psychedelic Furs’ album, their sound and lyrical imagery remains uniquely and consistently theirs. Richard Butler and brother/co-founder Tim Butler performed songs such as “India” and “Wrong Train,” two songs separated by 40 years between their release with the same enthusiasm and confidence as if they were both written that morning. Songwriting excellence married with magnetic theatrical storytelling at its best.
The setlist concluded in an amazing encore consisting of “Sister Europe” and “India.” For as cool and vulnerable Richard and the band were during the main show, saxophonist Mars Williams brought raw rock star power that Mötley Crüe at their wildest would have applauded. No fade to black to close this show. This was a definitive statement The Psychedelic Furs still have the power and desire to compete as a legitimate top-notch, relevant modern-day rock n’ roll band.
Supporting the entire evening was the always reliable, best sounding club in the Raleigh-Durham area the Cat’s Cradle. Clean, clear, well-balanced sound honored the talent gracing the stage that night. On the stage and in the back of the room, the venue was filled with expert artists who cared deeply about providing a quality evening of memorable entertainment for all.THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS
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