CONCERT REVIEW: Love Spit Love at 'Canes, San Diego, California
- Joann D. Ball
After nearly 20 years, Richard Butler is still making "beautiful chaos." Once the guiding force in seminal modern rock band The Psychedelic Furs, Butler is now enjoying critical acclaim and some commercial success with his current band Love Spit Love.
On the band's recent US club tour in support of the stellar sophomore effort Trysome Eatone (Maverick Records), Love Spit Love gave fans in San Diego a high energy, sonic treat.
As the sounds of spaghetti western theme music filled the room, Love Spit Love emerged from backstage at 'Canes, an intimate venue on the Pacific Ocean boardwalk. The 18-and-over crowd greeted the band with applause and whistles and then went nuts when Butler found his way to the front of the stage. Wearing horn-rimmed eyeglasses and sporting a newly acquired goatee, Butler wasted no time getting the show started. Raising his black megaphone and pointing it toward the crowd, he and his bandmates jumped noise-first into "More Than Money" from the new record.
After a short, sweet "thank you" from Butler, Love Spit Love then reached back into the Psychedelic Furs catalog for "Mr. Jones." Old Furs' fans quickly recognized this track from 1981's Talk Talk Talk while others seemed intrigued by its spirited revival. Performing this oldie but goodie with gusto, it was obvious that Butler is at peace with his musical past. And Butler's bandmates, Richard Fortus (guitar), Frank Ferrer (bass) and Chris Wilson (drums), are talented musicians who provide the tight, aggressive sound that puts a Nineties stamp on Furs' material. The band members invigorate the old songs and provide the perfect musical mix for the ever-raspy Butler, bringing the raw emotion and moods of his lyrics to life.
In Richard Fortus, Richard Butler has found his creative other half. With Ferrer and Wilson they produce energetic and inspired music which is further enhanced when played in concert. Live, Ferrer's bass and Wilson's drums form a solid, slightly funky rhythm section. And Fortus turns his little corner of the stage into guitar heaven, playing with such drive that he recalls both Pete Townshend and the spirit of punk in the process. The addition of a second guitarist for the live shows allows Love Spit Love to create a bigger sound. The addition also gives Fortus the opportunity to crank out the chords and spin slashing and sizzling leads which add an electric charge to the band's performance.
Love Spit Love concentrated on material from the new record at their San Diego gig, and really kicked out the jams on "Little Fist" and "Sweet Thing. " During "Long Long Time," the album's first single, the extremely animated Butler got the audience to dance along with him. And the band had the audience in its hand during the new single "Fall On Tears" and the passionate "Hurts When I Fall." Several songs from the self-titled debut record, including "Superman" and "Codeine," were also given the live treatment. Fortus ended "Codeine" by making full use of his six-string and wah-wah pedal in an awesome solo. During Fortus' spotlight moment, Butler took a smoke break off stage. He later returned to the microphone with cigarette in hand for the jazzy lounge number "November 5."
Later in the evening, Love Spit Love revisited the Furs' Talk Talk Talk and delivered a diesel fueled version of "I Wanna Sleep With You." Ending the show like it began, Butler picked up his megaphone to announce "Change in the Weather," the final song in a blistering hour-plus long set. The cheering crowd's demand for an encore was quickly honored as Butler and Fortus returned to the stage for a beautiful, acoustic interpretation of the classic "Love My Way" from the Furs' Mirror Moves . Then the rest of the band joined them to perform the final song of the night, an emotional version of "Am I Wrong."
For the latest on Love Spit Love, including upcoming tour dates and the possible cybercast of a live show, be sure to check out the band's excellent website ( http://www.lovespitlove.com ). Richard Fortus told Consumable about the website after the San Diego show and he and the rest of the band are very excited about using the Internet to connect with supporters. The website even has a section called "friends" where fans can leave messages for the band members and connect with each other.
SET LIST: More Than Money, Mr. Jones, Little Fist, Friends, Fall on Tears, 7 Years, Believe, Superman, It Hurts When I Fall, Codeine, November 5, Long Long Time, Sweet Thing, I Wanna Sleep With You, Change in the Weather [Encore] Love My Way and Am I Wrong
