The Triple Headlining Revolution 3 Tour featuring The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush made its way to Devore, California at the Glen Helen Amphitheater on September 1st, 2018
Review and Pictures: Joe Schaeffer
The Cult opened the night for the three headliners. The band, featuring Ian Astbury on lead vocals, kicked off their portion with the elevating rock riff of “Wild Flower.” Astbury danced around the stage with his tambourine in hand as if he were leading a Native American ceremony.
Most notable for me on this night was their simultaneously memorable and powerful versions of “Elemental Light” and “She Sells Sanctuary“.
The Cult has pretty much been Astbury/Duffy and various guns for hire. The current lineup includes drummer John Tempesta, bassist Grant Fitzpatrick and keyboardist/guitarist Damon Fox.
Lead guitarist Billy Duffy did an exceptional job. Duffy had his guitars strung low and he sounded tight as always. Duffy clearly enjoys being out there and moved steadily with the music. On “Fire Woman” he blazed the guitar with his playing and electrified the crowd.
They closed their show with “Love Removal Machine,” and left their fans craving more.
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Next up was the band of the night for me, Stone Temple Pilots. Having already seen them in Pasadena earlier this year with new singer Jeff Gutt my expectations were high and met from the get go.
They opened with “Wicked Garden” off their first album. Gutt channels Scott Weiland seamlessly, but still manages to make the music his own.
The set continued with top hits, including “Vasoline,” “Big Bang Baby,” “Big Empty,” and “Interstate Love Song.” Also included in the set were two songs from their latest, and 2nd self-titled release, “Meadow “and “Roll Me Under.” During the latter singer Jeff Gutt made his way singing through the capacity crowd.
I’ve always considered brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo the real driving force of the band. This evening being no exception, along with drummer Eric Kretz, they were on fire and made dedicated STP fans feel right at home.
The crowd cheered for “Dead and Bloated” and seemed to listen thoughtfully to the new STP material. As the show wound down and STP prepared to close with “Sex Type Thing,” Gutt once again thanked the crowd “for making this night so special, I appreciate it.”
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Bush then took the stage with Gavin Rossdale looking no older than he did when the band first broke America. He spent the majority of the evening bouncing around the stage with the kind of energy not often found in most 50+ year old men. He addressed the crowd thanking the audience for coming out and stated, “It is great to see so many familiar faces and some new faces.”
Joining Rossdale on stage were longtime drummer Robin Goodridge, lead guitarist Chris Traynor and bassist Corey Britz.
The band quickly ran through a collection of both old and new songs. Opening with “Machinehead” off their 1992 debut “Sixteen Stone” and hitting their stride with “Everything Zen.” Rossdale told the crowd, “This world is so divided and this world is so confused,” “We love you all,” they then delivered a unique version of “Come Together” by The Beatles.
An amazing night of music culminated with two of the bands best loved songs, “Little Things” and “Comedown”.
The “Revolution 3” tour finishes its run in early September.
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While most people were still getting to their seats, the female-led Los Angeles via London duo Bones took the stage promptly at 6:30pm. We were treated to a short 20 minute set which included a great version of David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans.” I was pleasantly surprised by this duo and hope to catch them again.
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