Sky E-News

For those who were hoping to hear my review of Echo and the Bunnymen in NYC in November, unfortunately, there is no news.  And no news is not always good news.  In this case, the whole US part of the tour was cancelled, because of tax problems with the band.  So they say.  With front men as cheeky as Ian McCulloch, it sometimes seems like their might be more personal reasons, or maybe just plain bad moods on a bad day.  However, some artists can get away with it.  When the things they create are as magical as their behavior in public can be offensive, we will excuse the tantrums of musicians.

It would even be all right if I had to cancel a reservation at a suite in a New York hotel, as long as I got to see the band.  Those who were lucky enough to be in the small crowd last October could see the Bunnymen at their best, and by all accounts, it was a show worthy of a decade of forgiveness for any time and money lost.  They still have it, so it seems.  Even though I have to say, I’m kicking myself for deciding to take that weekend to visit my cousin in Rockport, so he could test me with his new tattoo job.  It was not a big success, and eventually I will have to return so he can cover up the vampire that looks more like a sick squid after a bad night with robitussin.

Speaking of that, McCulloch has been looking a little down in the mouth himself lately.  But he’s the kind of hero that we can forgive, because when he’s clear, his mouth makes beautiful sounds.  And if it all holds together, and things sort themselves out long enough, we might get a chance to meet in Coachella, which should prove to be one of the best year’s of that festival.  The 80s were coming back, but the new decade does suggest that we’re going to be looking less at Echo and more at reunion tours of the survivors of the 90s.  So it goes.