The Witzard

I'm pretty sure myself, like many like-minded Indie Rock devotees, first heard Cults frontwoman Madeline Follin 's sultry whispery wail was on "Queen of Hearts" from Toronto Hardcore band F__ked Up 's sprawling 2011 Punk Rock Opera , David Comes to Life . While then nine-year-old Follin's first true "solo" work, Dee Dee Ramone -assembled Youth Gone Mad 's Touching Cloth (2000) pre-dates Cults by about 11 years, her latest set of recordings would appear to be her first legitimate outer-band side project; " Follin is the musical project of brother-sister duo Madeline and Richie James Follin . In the down time between record cycles of their respective bands [ Cults and Guards/Willowz ], they decided to finally record and release something together," San Francisco and Miami -based Father/Daughter Records wrote within a recent press release. It was an idea that they had hoped to turn into a reality for years, but time never pe...

When my buddy Dave & I saw Cults @ Union Transfer (Philly) roughly 2 weeks ago, lead guitarist Brian Oblivion talked about how the band doesn't ever really play live covers, simply because the couldn't nail down a suitable tune. Cults then proceeded to rip through a heavy, emotionally-driven rendition of "Everybody Knows." Originally appearing on Leonard Cohen 's 1988 album I'm Your Man , the track was penned along with Sharon Robinson , and later appeared on a handful of various film soundtracks. From what I can tell, that very Friday The 13th show marked the premier live performance of "Everybody Knows." It has since been revealed that Cults' cover is actually the first in what will essentially be an on-going series... "Old Ideas with New Friends." The compilation is set to be leaked out gradually over the course of the [up]coming months. A few of Indie Rock 's favourite leading men, A.C. Newman (New Pornographers) , Br...

Madeline Follin was even more beautiful and sultry live in concert than I could have ever even imagined! Her voice was a tad bit deeper than on record, but I think it actually sounded better in a larger-scale [concert] setting. A drummer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist were brought into the fold to help beef up the band's sound, just for the special occasion. Follin belted out each and every passion-filled note as if she were a seductive, slithering Jazz songstress playing a gig @ a hoppin' Lounge joint back in The Roaring 50's . Cults proceeded to rip through the entirety of their 11-track Columbia debut. A few appended tracks were also added into the mix for good measure: "The Curse" (Cults 7" EP) , a BRAND NEW Leonard Cohen cover, miscellaneous noodling and banter. At the imminent close of said blistering set, guitarist Brian Oblivion muttered something to the effect of "Fuck that corny shit where the band walks off stage, pretends to han...