Written by Christine Rivera, Photos by Bang Ho
Let me start with complete transparency- The Sisters of Mercy have been one of my favorite bands for years. They were also a band that I had accepted I would never get to see live – so when the announcement came out that they were not only playing their first shows in the US in nearly 15 years but playing right here in Austin, I was beyond excited.
Framed by two guitarists and shrouded in the ‘heavy haze’ promised by warning signs outside of ACL Live, singer Andrew Eldritch prowled across the stage, and while vocals were low at times, his voice was unmistakable. They played 17 songs for the main set, ranging from classics like ‘Marian’ and ‘Dominion/Mother Russia’ to new songs, such as opener ‘Don’t Drive on Ice’. After a brief break, they returned to the stage with a three-song encore; ‘Lucretia My Reflection’, ‘Temple of Love’, and, of course, ‘This Corrosion’, which had most of the audience singing along. The show was fun, it was exciting, and I can admit, it made me so happy that I cried.
