Monster Mash – By Robert J. Ricci

In what was billed as "An Evening with Siouxsie," goth-goddess Siouxsie Sioux recently took residence at B.B. King’s Blues Club for three nights of classics and rarities hand-picked from the whole of her career.

Monster Mash

By Robert J. Ricci

In what was billed as "An Evening with Siouxsie," goth-goddess Siouxsie Sioux recently took residence at B.B. King’s Blues Club for three nights of classics and rarities hand-picked from the whole of her career. Basking in the afterglow of H�i!, the latest offering from her now primary project, The Creatures, the icy chanteuse emerged from a cloud of smoke and incense to lead her lineup through a two-hour set that ran from the still-fresh opener "Say Yes!" to the crowd-pleasing "Arabian Knights."

Backed by longtime bandmate (and husband) Budgie, former Kodo drummer Leonard Eto, stalwart guitarist Knox Chandler, surfer-keyboardist Kristopher Pooley and twin backing vocalists Ananda and Rehana Ellis, the ever-stylish Sioux (born Susan Janet Ballion) seemed to draw as much energy from the sold-out crowd as she did from her catalogue. As she approaches her thirtieth year in the limelight, it’s easy to see why she has endured. Her Banshees were among the most successful art-punks to rise from London’s Bromley Contingent, an infamous gaggle of Sex Pistols’ groupies. In the years since, she has evolved from a primitive screamer to the undisputed queen of the underground.

For master percussionist Budgie, their current endeavor celebrates the duo’s "deepest instincts coming through." Continuing along a rhythmic path marked by the debut of The Creatures’ Feast in 1983, the emphatically titled H�i! blends a diverse mix of sources that are quite unlike those that fueled the work of the Banshees. Budgie’s daredevil antics drove Creature features like "The Prettiest Thing", "Second Floor", and "Right Now" while Siouxsie’s voice soared over Banshee hits that included "Dear Prudence", "Happy House" and "Face to Face". Behind them, is a sonic boom that would rival Godzilla, and is the subject of their recent single.

"The spirit of Japan has touched our souls and a new chapter in the story of The Creatures has begun," claims Budgie. Watching as their story continues to unfold promises to be nothing short of a magical experience.