The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (4.30.99)

Creatures comfort in a storm

Mark Lowry, Star-Telegram Writer

The last time Siouxsie Sioux played Dallas, about four years ago, it was a dark and stormy night.

Tornado sirens blasted while high winds and aggressive rains threatened to play the arm-ripping Beowulf to the Bomb Factory roof's Grendel. Inside, rain poured through the ceiling and onto the crowd, creating rivers blackened with the concertgoers' eyeliner.

Onstage, the crew protected the equipment with a membrane of black trash bags, and Siouxsie and the Banshees played on.

For any other band, such lightning, thunder and fear that this might be your last concert would have made for a disastrous evening.

But for Sioux, it made exquisite accompaniment.

That was Siouxsie and the Banshees' farewell tour. They broke up in 1995. Sioux and her husband/Banshees skin-banger Budgie could get back to their side project, the Creatures.

In February, the Creatures released their third album, Anima Animus, their first full-length work since 1989's Boomerang. Last year came the EP Eraser Cut and an acclaimed tour with John Cale.

Anima Animus follows the same path the Creatures have led us down for 18 years - Sioux's goth queen vocals and Budgie's hefty percussion - but it also opens up new doors, such as electronica.

Many of its tracks, especially the single 2nd Floor, are ripe for extended club play. It's their best work since 1983's Feast.

Sioux doesn't really like that word "goth" in reference to her music. This is surprising, because there's no denying she has been instrumental in defining the oft-misunderstood genre, much of which sprang from the late-'70s punk scene where she got her start.

Actually, we don't care what label you attach to Sioux, so long as she keeps evolving and producing music. And if you're still not sold, then check out the Creatures this week and you're likely to convert.

Oh, and don't forget to pray for a nice, comfortingly vociferous storm.

Contributed by Jerry Burch.