The Cult Bring 40 Years of Hits to Montreal’s MTelus [Photos]

It’s a good thing that rock n’ roll helps to keep you young because sometimes covering rock n’ roll can remind you of how old you really are. Every week seems to feature the anniversary of a record release or other related anniversaries, like the one at the MTelus in Montreal last Wednesday night. The Cult were in town for the first night of their “8424 Tour.” In other words, their 40th-anniversary tour. The sold-out crowd lined the streets in front of the building an hour before showtime. The majority were the young at heart, but there was also a good collection of the truly young as well. All waiting to either relive a great moment from their past love for the band or eager to have their first.

The opening band was Culture Wars, direct from El Paso, Texas. The band, a whirling dervish of energy, might have calmly walked to the stage, but once the music began, all bets were off. “Disparate passions battle within the songs, somehow beautifully making peace.” That is how the band describes the meaning of their name, and they bring that same attitude with them to the stage. It was only an eight-song set, but they managed to set an awesome tone for the night and made a slew of new Montreal fans in the process.

A while later, after the roadies and technicians had completed their work, it was time to light a few candles and burn some incense before our headliners hit the stage. The Cult have been together for 40 years and have always been very popular in town. It’s an honour that Montreal was chosen to be the first show of the North American leg of their 40th anniversary tour. Those fans who lined up outside hours before the show were not disappointed as their heroes hit the stage.

One of the most distinctive bands of the 1980s, The Cult, led by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, remain one of the most unique bands. They opened with the one-two punch of “In The Clouds” and “Rise” from their breakthrough album, Love, before settling into a greatest hits collection that rivals any band out there.

It may have been a cool end-of-summer evening outside, but The Cult and all of their fans brought a blast of summer heat to downtown Montreal. This 40th anniversary tour is a must for not only the diehards but for those looking to discover The Cult for the first time. They’ll be touring North America until the end of September before taking their show across the ocean.

The Cult (w/ Culture Wars) @ MTelus (Montreal, QC) on September 4, 2024

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