Bush, The Cult and Stone Temple Pilots at The Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Bush, The Cult and Stone Temple Pilots
The Revolution 3 Tour
The Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Wantagh, NY
July 27, 2018
Bush was formed in London, England in 1992 when rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Gavin Rossdale, drummer Robin Goodridge, lead guitarist Nigel Pulsford and bassist Dave Parsons came together and found great success with its 1994 debut album Sixteen Stone (Trauma/Interscope Records). Sixteen Stone was certified 6 times multi-platinum by the RIAA.
During its career Bush has sold over 10 million albums and had numerous top ten singles on the Billboard rock charts. It has also released a # 1 album--Razorblade Suitcase (Trauma/Interscope Records, 1996). The band broke up in 2002 but reformed in 2010. Since the reformation, the band has released three albums on Zuma Rock Records: The Sea of Memories (2011), Man on the Run (2014), and Black and White Rainbows (2017). Bush’s current lineup consists of Rossdale, Goodridge, lead guitarist Chris Traynor, and bassist Corey Britz.
The Cult is a British rock band that was formed in 1983. The band’s original name was Death Cult. In late 1985, the band achieved its first success in the U.K. with the single “She Sells Sanctuary” from its Love album (Beggars Banquet/Sire Records). In the late ‘80s, The Cult broke through in the U.S. with the singles “Love Removal Machine” from Electric (Beggars Banquet/Sire Records, 1987) and “Fire Woman” from Sonic Temple (Beggars Banquet/Sire Records, 1989).
In 1995, The Cult split up. The band reunited in 1999 and released Beyond Good and Evil on Atlantic Records in 2001. They broke-up again in 2002. In 2006, the band reformed once again. Since the reformation, it has released three studio albums: Born into This (Atlantic Records, 2007), Choice of Weapon (Cooking Vinyl, 2012) and Hidden City (Cooking Vinyl/Dine Alone Records, 2016).
Over the years, the band has had various line-ups. The two mainstays are vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. The band’s current lineup also features Damon Fox on keyboards, Grant Fitzpatrick on bass guitar and John Tempesta on drums.
Stone Temple Pilots (often called STP) was formed in San Diego, CA in 1989, and originally consisted of the late Scott Weiland (lead vocals), Eric Kretz (drums) and the DeLeo brothers--Robert (bass) and Dean (guitars). Weiland was fired in February 2013. Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington took over the lead vocals in May 2013 and remained in the band until November 2015 when he decided to focus solely on Linkin Park.
In December 2015, Weiland was found dead on his tour bus before a performance with his band The Wildabouts. On July 20, 2017, Bennington was found dead at his home. After holding an online audition for a new lead vocalist, Jeff Gutt was chosen for the slot in November 2017.
STP released numerous commercially and critically lauded Atlantic Records albums including Core (1992), Purple (1994), Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996), No. 4 (1999), and Shangri-La Dee Da (2001), before separating in 2002. Following the 2002 hiatus, the band members partook in various projects such as Velvet Revolver and Army of Anyone). In 2010, the band reunited and released a self-titled album in 2010 on Atlantic Records. In 2013 the EP, High Rise (Play Pen, LLC) was released featuring Bennington on lead vocals. In 2018, band released its seventh studio album, also titled Stone Temple Pilots (featuring Gutt on vocals) on Rhino Records. During its career, STP has sold more than 18 million albums in the United States and 35 million worldwide
On a somewhat rainy Thursday evening in late July, the three alternative rock bands came together and killed it at The Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on the “tri-headlining” Revolution 3 Tour. The concept of the tour is simple--each act plays a full set with the lineup order changing at each stop. On this evening, the lineup was STP on first, followed by The Cult with Bush holding the position of “headliner.”
STP hit the stage and delivered a powerful set featuring its greatest hits — “Vasoline,” “Big Empty,” “Plush” and “Interstate Love Song.” The two new songs from its latest self-titled album, “Meadow” and “Roll Me Under,” proved that the band’s new incarnation was not to be dismissed. The DeLeo brothers and Kretz delivered a tremendous musical experience, and lastly, Gutt’s vocals were eerily reminiscent of Weiland’s and his performance solid.
The Cult was up next. Its strong set began with “Wild Flower” and “Rain” (which became slightly ironic when the skies opened during the band’s set), “Rise” (from Beyond Good and Evil) and “Elemental Light” (from Choice of Weapon). Other highlights included: the unplugged version of “Edie (Ciao Baby),” the psychedelic and Doors-influenced “Sweet Soul Sister” and the set closing foursome: big guns — “She Sells Sanctuary,” “The Phoenix,” “Fire Woman” and “Love Removal Machine.”
The Cult rocked, in fact, they rocked hard...and it was a great show. Astbury was in fine voice and Duffy played like a man possessed (especially on “The Phoenix”). The audience was into the performance and for an hour it was 1989 all over again.
Bush was the third and final band to take the stage at the intimate outdoor venue. After the rain stopped, with red backlighting and blue, purple, green and yellow lasers flooding the stage, Bush began its high-energy show with “Machinehead.” The new song “This is War” (from the Deluxe Version of Black And White Rainbows) followed.
Rossdale was in great spirits. He addressed the crowd thanking the audience for coming out and stated, “I love this venue. It's so great to be here. It is great to see so many familiar faces and some new faces.” His energy and enthusiasm was infectious--even if his dancing and pogo-ing left a little to be desired.
Highlights of the show included: “The Chemicals Between Us,” a powerful version of “The Sound of Winter,” and “Swallowed” (during which audience members rose to their feet and sang along), “Everything Zen” and the roaring cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together.” The show ended with a trifecta of tunes that focused on the band’s mid-’90s golden era. The amazing rendition of “Glycerine” was followed by “Little Things” and an arena shaking version of “Comedown.”
The show was a highly enjoyable, energetic three-and-a-half hour, hit-filled rock show (despite the rain that came during The Cult’s performance). The three bands turned back the clock and proved that while time changes some things, great bands persevere and continue to delight the fans.
Photos by Christine Connallon
