Thursday, August 6, 1998, found John Cale and the Creatures performing the final of three nights at the New York City club, Life. Goths seemed to be the predominant sub-culture as the crowd squeezed itself ever closer to the stage in anticipation of the two acts which encompass decades of ground breaking music. The sold-out club was almost impossible to walk through, but my friend and I managed to fight our way to the bar to order our $8 Jack and Cokes.

John Cale, co-founder of one of the most innovative bands in music history, The Velvet Underground, has been composing, performing, and producing for nearly 30 years. He has recorded solo material and collaborated with other musicians such as Brian Eno on his project Wrong Way Up.

The Creatures, consisting of the former Siouxsie and the Banshees singer Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie, formed in 1981. The musical duo, now married, remained members of both bands until Siouxsie and the Banshees broke up, after 20 years of existence, in 1996. Since then, the Creatures have had a difficult time obtaining a desirable record deal in the United States. Despite the lack of album promotion, however, the band has been performing across the country for the sake of art and their fans. Hopefully the touring and exposure will gain them the recording contract they seek. If their live performance is any indication, their latest LP Anima Animus, which includes tracks such as "Exterminating Angel," "All She Could Ask For," and "Don't Go To Sleep" should be a knock-out.

The John Cale, Siouxsie and Budgie relationship goes back quite a few years, the Banshees having included a cover of Cale's song in their 1987 album Through the Looking Glass and, years later, having their final LP, The Rapture produced by Cale.

Looking very upper crust in a suit and spiked hair, Cale began the show with his experimental sounds, which somehow filled the smoky air with quietude and disturbance at the same time. He was eventually joined by the fabulous Miss Sioux who snuck on stage to join him in song during the end of his opening performance. Cheers and arms raised into the air as the vinyl wrapped diva stepped to the fore. Once Cale had departed, and Siouxsie had taken her place at centerstage, an ocean of flowers made their way over the audience and were presented to the woman whose vocals have had an impact on modern music since before the term "alternative" existed. Siouxsie was all smiles, in contrast to her reputation of being cold and antagonistic.

Budgie handled his drum kit with predictable ease as the two produced a performance reflective of their 20-plus years as professional musicians. Siouxsie grabbed the audience's attention from the moment she took the stage, and didn't release it until after the final encore. Her eyes alone could rip through your soul, but Siouxsie backs up her stunning appearance with gorgeous throaty vocals, style, presence, and songwriting skill. Selections for the evening ranged from Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Tattoo" to the Creatures' "Prettiest Thing" and "Pluto Drive."

Siouxsie changed costume once during the performance, switching from a red shirt to a black bra under a beaded red top. The couple maintained the perfect dichotomy, Siouxsie with her consistent camp and jet black hair, and Budgie with his pleasant demeanor and platinum locks. Siouxsie pounded on drums, stared at the audience, and maintained her diva status while Budgie threw out smiles and even strummed a guitar a few times as the two accompanying musicians on guitar and bass maintained their distance from the spotlight.

Throughout the performance, the Creatures and Cale traded places as well as joined together to perform songs in an alternative music tour de force. During the encore, Siouxsie surprised the audience with a rendition of the Sinatra classic "New York, New York," a salute of sorts, I suppose, to the New York chapter of her consistently loyal following.