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On a warm, dry evening, just bast Beltaine, 1999, with the Season of
the Goddess just begun, a crowd of dark-clad folk gathered in the
centre of the northern city of Leeds...
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As the evening darkened to nightfall, the audience swelled until the
old pub was filled to bursting.
Many and varied were the folk that came, Pagans and Goths, Wiccans
and Witches, followers of the old ways, of the Horned God and the
Bright Lady, and others, even just the curious, drawn as to a flame
by the legend of those who would play here tonight.
And then of course, there was me, also a follower of the Old Faith,
though I claim to be no more than an apprentice.
The last time I had seen Inkubus Sukkubus play live had been four
long years before, in a basement bar in the Victorian splendour of
my beloved Glasgow, just past Samhain, 1995.
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The crowd quieted, antcipation grew until you could feel it all
arround...
...And then Tony, Candia and Mick hit the stage, and Pagan Goth
Rock has never sounded better!
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Four years on, and the band still sounded as fresh and alive as
they did back in 95, if anything, more so. The main set was thirteen
tracks, varying from the well loved classics "Wytches", "Leveller",
and "The Rape Of Maude Bowen", to brand new material off the then
just released "Away With The Faeries" CD.
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With occasional pauses for drink,
and sometimes for other drink,
(rock & roll without beer - Heresy!) Inkubus Sukkubus played
continuously for almost two hours, a truly electrifying gig.
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Every song was delivered
with class and style, the dark, driving rythms and magic-laden,
haunting vocals pouring from the speakers and holding the audience
enchanted in the music.
There were a few surprises, too, including a lively cover version of
the Gothic classic
"Spellbound", and a brilliant performance of their stunning version
of the old Rolling Stones classic "Paint It Black", during which
members of the audience presented the band with placards bearing the
legend "Jager Monsters".
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As is traditional at Inkubus Sukkubus gigs, the encore were their
two great church bashing classics, "Church Of Madness" and "All The
Devil's Men", run together into a single sledgehammer of a track,
the echoes of which reverberate through the dark spaces of our
collective mind, a lasting reminder of the horrors perpetrated on
our ancestors in the name of the Church of Rome and the God of Love.
A dark note to end on perhaps, but a memorable one, for both songs
are power driven classics, in the finest traditions of darkside rock.
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And so the gig ended, leaving those of us nearest the stage soaked in
sweat and gasping for air. Inkubus Sukkubus live are an act that
have to be experienced to be appreciated - words and pictures convey
just a pale shadow of the reality of this incredible rock band.
- Jack, Sheffield, approaching Midwinter's Night, 1999.
A final comment to the Band, their Promoters and Record Company:
Thanks for giving us this wonderful music - long may you continue,
and long may the Gods smile upon you. Blessed Be!
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