And thats all were gonna say about that. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Upon arrival, it was hard not to be impressed with those who sacrificed comfort for fashion, done up in looks like platform boots, DIY patch jackets, heavy makeup, hair dye and more all usually more appropriate for a club environment. The Cruel World Festival, held this past weekend at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, featured some of the best goth and new wave bands from the past and present spread across three stages, each nostalgically named (Lost Boys, Sad Girls and Outsiders). The festival, originally scheduled for 2021 but delayed because of the pandemic, was long-awaited and highly anticipated. During the performance, and especially during their cover of Ziggy Stardust, when Murphy had a slight fall but quickly got back up, we thought about longevity and the hopes wed get to see more Bauhaus (tickets for their 2022 tour are currently on sale, so we will!). Its going to be a cool thing to say you went to the first Cruel World one day. They delivered slightly different yet still enjoyable renditions of the songs we all know and love. The pale-faced duo really nailed that addictive 80s synth-pop/ominous bassline sound and feel, similar to bands like IDKHOW and Lebanon Hanover. But it was still too hot. Debby Harry at 76 still killed it, accompanied by Glen Matlock (previously of the Sex Pistols) and a powerful Clem Burke on drums. They could easily pass as a group from decades prior, so they fit in perfectly with the legends who played later. Regardless, heres to hoping Cruel World stays dark and doesnt sell out or water down the lineups with lighter genres in the coming years. Featuring Blondie, Automatic, Berlin, Missing Persons and 45 Grave, what the lineup lacked in quantity it made up for in quality. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. While Bauhaus sounded as gloomy and great as ever, their age was a bit apparent at times. There may not have been many women performing but the ones that did made an impression. The lighting and projected visuals really helped enhance the experience of ambient songs such as Bela Lugosis Dead and Shes In Parties. From the moment you hear the opening distorted guitar strum of Dark Entries as it reverberates outward, you know youre about to be sucked into the immersive darkness of Peter Murphys vocals.

Drab Majesty were a perfect example they presented a thoroughly enjoyable performance even if you werent familiar with their songs or stage show before. Lebanon Hanover (bad incorrect spelling within article). Cruel Worlds most anticipated headliners happened to be the oldest, in contrast to last months Coachella, which prioritized young musicians and even younger fans. And like many such events, it was accompanied by highs and lows, from the temperatures to the sound. Being able to listen to so many bands surrounded by such a diverse crowd T-shirt attire ranged from Iron Maiden to Britney Spears to all the bands on the bill was a reassuring testament to the hopeful destruction of rigid elitism and music snobbery so commonly displayed in alternative music spaces. For those who went both days, the layout became more familiar and easier to navigate, and it was easier to find shade. The second day, thankfully, was significantly more bearable since the temperature was 10 degrees cooler. The absence of the Bunnymen from the festival, and the announcement that they will be playing next years event got us thinking about who else wed like to see on the bill next time, such as acts like New Order and Pet Shop Boys. I think you forgot a category: Most/Least Surprising. New issue is out this week and available at Skylight Books and Y-Que in Los Feliz and Stories in Echo Park. Concert-goers of all ages were out in force, and regardless of how they felt after the long, hot weekend, there is no denying it was unforgettable. The festival was certainly a melting pot of people of all ages, subcultures and locations around the globe. Heres a rundown of some of the festivals high and low points: Despite being centered around bands from Gen Xers youth, the lineup featured appearances from a number of newer dark-themed bands, which allowed for lots of discovery. It was certainly ironic that this festival coincided with one of the hottest weekends of the spring. Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs was another example of an artist who gave a good performance despite seeming a little slowed down, with some voice cracks and tempo shifts. Read more of Charlotte Pinkersons writing in the new magazine, The Violet for the youth, by the youth. Lead singer Ian McCulloch would have added a different level of swagger to the event. We were also better-acquainted with the necessary things to pack, which made for a better experience. The merch line itself looked sweaty and scary long, but the fact that hundreds of people waited in it for hours in that heat just for a T-shirt was other-level. Learn how your comment data is processed. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. After suffering through a long hot day, ending the night with Bauhaus felt like a reward. John Lydon of PiL no longer has the spark he once did in his punk days, but he is still angry as ever. Even in the sweltering midday heat, their instrumental production was on point and their makeup was flawless. I think a nominee for Most Surprising: Morrissey actually showed up, on time. Were even hoping that Siouxsie Sioux might come out of retirement if the price is right. The anarchy schtick felt hollow in light of what we know about his political views, though. Hanging On The Telephone, One Way or Another and Rapture got the crowd dancing and singing along (especially during Raptures rap section). In a performance that shocked no one, Morrissey delivered a predictably boring and pretentious set complete with a wanna-be Frank Sinatra opening and cringey vegan memes. But for those who enjoy looking different in the name of expression, that didnt matter. The unorthodox fashion choices created an environment that made us feel part of a creative community and it was fun to see this alternative world on display. Bauhaus definitely delivered hands down one of the best performances of the festival, proving once and for all that the band that made goth an established genre still has it. Editors note: Charlotte Pinkerson is a Los Angeles teenager with a better band shirt collection than most adults. Everyone was disappointed to hear only a few days pre-festival that Liverpools Echo & the Bunnymen pulled out, especially because they were the band so many were most excited to see. Least Surprising: Morrissey delivered one of the worst sets.

Many outfits appeared to be a hindrance to the efficiency of festival-going and traveling often from stage to stage. Blondie headlined the Sad Girls stage, and thankfully played their biggest hits, which were well-received. Luckily they are set to headline Cruel World 2023 (plus, they just announced an L.A. date Aug. 26 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel) alongside a soon-to-be-decided set of other nostalgia-inducing new wave bands.