2003/04/24, Barrowland, Glasgow, UK

Written by Monika Wojciechowska (monja76@lycosmail.com) for The Sisters of Mercy Tours webzine

Ok, I do understand that everybody has a right to their own opinion and individual way of perfecting certain events, but… I'm sorry, I do find Simon's review of The Sister's concert in Glasgow far too well, inadequate - or, say, too subjective ;). I am not interesting what kind of drink was served in Barrowland and whether Andrew Eldritch wore hood or not, and somebody else said 'fuck off'. I mean - this is a concert we are talking about, isn't it? I just can't help myself - I have to tell my own story.

I am not the greatest fan of The Sisters of Mercy. I do not have all their albums, I don't know all the lyrics by heart. I am not trying to claim I know exactly what Andrew Eldritch meant by saying this or that. I do not interpret songs. I just feel them, I feel the music and that's what it is all about to me. The Sisters are in my top 5 favourite bands. If not top 3.

Anyway, I had completely no idea what to expect from the concert. For some reason I always imagined the Sisters would be rather studio type of band, with all the technical gimmicks one can use only there. And besides - I couldn't have imagined some of the songs without the support of ladies - like Ofra Haza or Maggie Reilly. Could You?

But  my first impression when I was heading towards Barrowland was who the hell all those people were? I have seen a few gothic rock festivals, but this looked like fancy dress hire shops, or rather fetish shops were busy these days. For a good while I wondered whether I could have felt comfortable in my ordinary jeans, with fair hair and no black make up. Such a relief it was to see some 'normal' looking twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings and fourty-somethings. 'Never mind' I said to myself 'I'm not a teenager any more, I do not have to prove anything to myself, to anybody else by dressing up'. Or maybe - as a foreigner - I just still can't understand the mentality of people living in British Isles? Must be.

I felt really sorry for the support band. Who the hell got the idea to let anybody play before The Sisters of Mercy? Not that they were bad - I actually liked them, but they were given most ungrateful task to entertain such a specific audience. Pretty impossible.

Then the smoke appeared, lights and Doktor Avalanche, and guitars. And somewhere in the middle of the stage there was a cigarette end shining. And I was listening to the music thinking - I do know it , I do, I do, but only when Andrew emerged from the smoke and I heard 'With the fire and the fireworks up above me' I actually realised it was Temple of Love. And that what was happening for another two hours. The Sisters ARE actually a band that sounds so far more powerful, impressive, knocking out, different live. And it was only after the concert when I realised there was no need for female voices, no need for some sexy birds doing choirs. I was actually stunned to hear Eldritch singing in such a variety of ways - from screaming to whispering, from roughness to delicacy of his voice. Believe it or not - I was crying during I Was Wrong.

And that was it. I don't feel I need to mention every single song. I don't even need to remember all of them. I just know I loved every minute, every second of those two hours. I cannot forget the atmosphere, I still close my eyes and see three human shapes in smoke, with lights flashing behind and a forest of arms stretched towards them, the applause, and simple 'Thank You' at the very end.

Written by Don Robertson (Vonbek@btinternet.com) for The Sisters of Mercy Tours webzine

There is a fantastic atmosphere from the off at gig - only the second Scottish date since 1985, but I've always maintained that Glasgow audiences are among the best in the UK. My wife and I get down the front early for this her first Sisters' gig.

The setlist is pretty much standard, opening with Temple of Love, Crash And Burn and Ribbons. When You Don't See Me does as I suspected sound better than when I first heard it in London but I'm still not convinced.

There is much dancing and moshing and before we know it Romeo Down is playing. The bass always sounds incredible and it remains with perhaps the exception of Crash And Burn my favourite of all the new songs, although Have Slept With All The Girls In Berlin is also a grower.

The two encores are also standard, I Was Wrong, Never Land, Lucretia, My Reflection followed by Top Nite Out and Vision Thing. Now I've heard it again I don't particularly care for the arrangement of I Was Wrong and wouldn't miss it if they never played it again! Never Land by contrast is incredible live, as if most of the Floodland material. That said, I really miss the bass line on Lucretia, although I can't deny the new version is very powerful live. I guess I'm turning into a traditionalist.

After the gig I discover my wife has procured a couple of aftershow passes. Apparently she assisted a very drunk girl who was being sick in the toilets and she and her friend gave Helen their passes. Typical - in almost fourteen years of going to Sisters' gigs I've never once had a back stage pass and my wife scores two!

I have to say the aftershow party was rather a disappointment. By the time we've collected our jackets and made our way back stage all the booze and food are gone. There's no music and Eldritch only makes one brief appearance dressed in a white hooded top, with the hood up, and a bright orange reflective jacket. Adam Pearson also managed to irritate the hell of out of Helen by being politely obnoxious, which somehow makes it worse. By the sound of it she's going to hold a grudge.

We left about half past twelve when it become obvious that nothing exciting was going to happen.

Written by Andrew Semple (androo_s@yahoo.com) for Dominion mailing list

It was good to see the band thaw out after a distinctly distant performance the night before in Manchester. The enthusiasm of the Glasgow audience seemed to rub off on Eldritch who was jumping up and down with the audience during Lucretia.

Not quite up there with the London shows and Leeds' 2nd night but still one of my favourites on this tour (with the added bonus of being able to walk back to my house afterwards).

Written by Simon Cardwell (s.cardwell@csl.gov.uk) for Heartland forums

The gig was f*cking great and rowdy as hell down the front. Always a good crowd in Glasgow!

I was hanging around at the front of the stage after the gig finished, trying to bag a setlist off a roadie. Normally I can never be arsed collecting these things, but I was right down the front for once so I thought I'd try my luck. I didn't get one, but a roadie handed me (and several others) an aftershow pass - even better!

So we all got in and helped ourselves to the beer, vodka and red bull that was on offer. To be honest it was nothing special in that room - just a few sofas and a table with fruit, chocolates and booze on it. The ceiling was decorated with a lot of groovy plastic five pointed stars, one of which I got as a souvenir.

Anyway... Adam Pearson was there chatting away to a few fans, and Chris Starling went back and forth to the tour bus a few times - he caught me stealing the sign that says "Sisters Of Mercy - Dressing Room" and he said "what the f*ck ya doin'?" before wandering off again!

At about midnight Andrew Eldritch walked in with his shades on. He was wearing the "shut.the.f*ck.up" hooded top (with the hood up!) with what looked like a red ambulance jacket over the top of it (this looked rather ridiculous btw). He strolled over to the "In Crowd" and sat down and chatted with them for about 10 minutes before disappearing back to his private dressing room. I caught a glimpse of it when he opened the door - it was nothing special - there was a huge mirror surrounded by light bulbs like you would expect and he had some female company!

So we stayed until the "party" started fizzling out. It was now 00:30 so I decided to leave for the long drive back to York, eventually crashing out at 4am. Sh*t I'm so tired and I'm supposed to be Smurphing tonight!