THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS - TOUR

 
 
  Support acts during 1987:  
 


Gaye Bikers On Acid
Psychic TV
The Fall
Wire

 
     

 

     
  DATE/VENUE  
     

 

     
  August  
 
 
  23/08/87 - Miami, 1235 Concert Hall    
   

 

     
  22/08/87 - St. Petersburg, Jannus Landing

Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92º
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Cities In Dust
Spellbound
Hong Kong Garden
Israel
Monitor

 
     

 

     
  20/08/87 - Atlanta, Civic Center  
   

 

     
  18/08/87 - Pittsburgh, Fulton Theatre

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92º
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Cities In Dust
Playground Twist
Trust In Me

 
     

 

     
  17/08/87 - Washington, D.C., Constitution Hall

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
Playground Twist
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Dear Prudence
Spellbound
Israel
Cities In Dust
Arabian Knights
Hong Kong Garden

 
     

 

     
  15/08/87 - New York, Felt Forum

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92°
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Cities In Dust
Spellbound
Hong Kong Garden
Song From The Edge Of The World
Arabian Knights
Trust In Me

 
     
  Star Hits 1987  
     
  You're traveling through another dimension; a dimension where you might have a good time, but, then again, you might not. A journey into a weird land whose boundaries are a lack of enthusiasm. That's the signpost up ahead- "Siouxsie and the Banshees Live!" You want more details? Well, okay...

It's like this: you always expect to be totally thrilled by the first song, so you can...y'know, get up on your feet, dance, be glad to be there? Well, the houselights go down, big roar, the band feigns excitement by running onstage and... You sort of expect something to happen now, right? But it is almost a full, very uncomfortable minute before the recorded introduction to "Dazzle" swells from the speakers. Obviously, the momentum is pfffft, and for a fast song, this "Dazzle" is the dullest.

Perhaps the Banshees did that on purpose so we could get used to their "visual effects." An annoyingly bright light directed at our eyes only momentarily distracts us from Siouxsie's new short 'do (yes, her crimped, teased mop is at the end of a stick somewhere). This is nothing compared to her punk-zulu look of spandex bodysuit with puffs of pink fur here and there.

The loss of guitarist John Carruthers is sorely felt, as his replacement, a really tall, sorta rock 'n' rolly guy, musically lends *nada* new to the Banshees. On the other hand, there is the new synthesist, whose subtle full wash of sound covers up the rest of the band's lazy playing.

Why haven't you heard anything about the music yet? Because, and wotta bummer, except for a few bright moments, the Banshees simply play, nearly groaning as they push out old favorites "Christine," "Melt," "Hong Kong Garden" and a few others. By contrast, "Hall of Mirrors" is sharp and mysterious, the sensual "Slowdive" features actual cello accompaniment by the synth guy and "Cities In Dust" really gets the fur flying. 

But something smells bad. And that something was that only the new guitarist seems to be "into it"; the rest of the Banshees don't seem to care that there's a room full of people who've come to see them. Sure, a band can't be "on" every night, but the Banshees seem positively pissed off. And why? Siouxsie's sole utterance of the evening comes after "Arabian Knights" and is directed to her record company: "Hello to Geffen, who don't follow up." Gee, that sure means a lot to me. Thank God she got *that* out of her system.

They end on their second encore, the eerie "Trust In Me." Too late.

Suzan Colon

 
     

 

     
  12/08/87 - Toronto, Kingswood Music Theatre

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92º
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Cities In Dust
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Playground Twist
Hong Kong Garden

 
     

 

     
  11/08/87 - Detroit, State Theatre  
   

 

     
  09/08/87 - Anaheim, Stadium (David Bowie Support Act)

Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92º
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
I Promise
Red Light
Spellbound
Song From The Edge Of The World
Cities In Dust
Trust In Me

 
     

 

     
  08/08/87 - Anaheim, Stadium (David Bowie Support Act)  
   

 

     
  07/08/87 - Berkeley, Greek Theatre

Ticket 07/08/87 - Courtesy Of Paul Valdez - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
92º
Slowdive
Swimming Horses
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Cities In Dust
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Hong Kong Garden
Trust In Me

 
     

 

     
  06/08/87 - Berkeley, Greek Theatre  
   

 

     
  July  
 
 
  25/07/87 - London, Finsbury Park 

Under Canvas Advert 25/07/87 Advert - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Finsbury Park Program - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Finsbury Park Ticket - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Finsbury Park 1987 - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Dazzle
Overground
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
Swimming Horses
92º
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Cities In Dust
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Hong Kong Garden
Playground Twist
Slowdive
Trust In Me

 
     
  Record Mirror 1987  
     
 

There aren't many one -day pop festivals that are worth tiptoeing through pools of boot-thirsty mud for.  This one, however, boasted the only UK summer appearance of the Banshees along with a most superior support troupe..

...The band most of the audience had come for was Siouxsie & The Banshees.  The tent, which was the site for the concert became thick with the colour of black, the odour of hairspray and people scrabbling for a view which didn't include one of the huge girders or a high rise hairdo.  A slightly under-dramatic entrance to the throws of 'Dazzle' saw the Banshees once more as a force to be reckoned with.  And a pretty surprising show it turned out to be - a greatest hits evening; one succeeded quickly by another.

'Christine' and 'Melt!', cradled with a hint of seductiveness was followed by 'Swimming Horses', riding on a wave of vocal pomp.  Siouxsie, minus wig and looking suspiciously like Liza Minelli, was bathed fittingly in blue and purple lighting, like The Wicked Witch Of The West.  The two new boys, Jon Klein (guitar) and Martin McCarrick (keyboards) slotted in well, but the show, as ever, belonged to the main girl and to Budgie, blond locks flying along with his drumsticks.

And the hits continued.  The poppiness of 'This Wheel's On Fire', the ferociousness of 'Spellbound' and the unexpectedness of 'Israel.'  "Oh no, not this one," muttered Siouxsie, and the band lashed into 'Hong Kong Garden.'  Well, it wasn't quite the Roxy '77, but it had still maintained some of its freshness even if the band looked pretty uninspired by it.

The band were saved by the grace of their old material, and the punters got what they wanted, but not perhaps what they had bargained for.  We were left to wander off, hot, sticky, beer sodden and very thoughtful.

Lysette Cohen

 
     

 

     
  18/07/87 - Plymouth, Rock Festival (Cancelled)

Plymouth Rock Festival 18/07/87 Advert - Click Here For Bigger Scan

 
   

 

     
  11/07/87 - St. Boarshaussen, Loreley Festival

Dazzle
Playground Twist
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
Swimming Horses
92º
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Dear Prudence
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Hong Kong Garden
Cities In Dust
Slowdive
Trust In Me

 
     

 

     
  10/07/87 - Berlin, Waldbuhne Festival

1987 Tour Program - Click Here For Bigger Scan

Dazzle
Playground Twist
Hall Of Mirrors
Christine
Melt!
Swimming Horses
92º
Take Me Back
This Wheel's On Fire
Suburban Relapse
I Promise
Red Light
Dear Prudence
Song From The Edge Of The World
Spellbound
Israel
Hong Kong Garden
Cities In Dust
Trust In Me