alt title: trip back to the '90s. And '80s. And '70s.

Man, blink and you'll miss the window of opportunity to broadcast something fresh. I kept putting off this bloody blog for a week, and now everyone's already said everything there is to say about the Cure gig, and probably more. Ah well, it's all mostly true, but a hearty fark off to all the trainspotters that've complained it was too stadium rock. I did the numbers and they've been going for OVER 30 YEARS, so if they want to rock it up (in a stadium) then I think they've probably earned the right to do that. Possibly they've earned the right to mash it up into german micro-house DJ set if they really wanted, although I concur I'd have been a bit disappointed if they'd gone that route. Granted, I have more of a penchant for stadium rock anyway (aww, bless her lil nu-metal-sympathising bobby-socks) - as a result, there were even a couple of songs that I finally liked for the first time. There were a bunch of songs that I'd only heard for the first time too, many that predate my tastes and a few that postdate. I'll be sifting through bargain bins for Faith and Three Imaginary Boys now, although I suspect less-than-stadium-rock recording may make them a little less palatable than live, sorry...

Besides, I don't think a rocky set is particularly surprising in the absence of a keyboardist - I'm assuming that's a reason for a few notable omissions from their setlist (although I reckon they'd probably heartily despise Close To Me by now anyway; that's the cure-hater's favourite Cure song). However, with 30 years' worth of material to choose from, it was pretty difficult to spot the gaps anyway. And they played Never Enough, which is The Song That Opened The Door To Heatherland, so that made me very happy.

Yup, I was kind of a late-ish fan - I decided I quite liked them a couple of years before their "mainstream" album - and then my (always rather benign, I'll admit) fandom was further obstructed by a weird love-hate relationship with a guy at university who OBSESSED over them; for about a year I was adamant that I hated them, primarily because he had an infuriating way of being right a lot, and musical tastes were an area in which I could disagree with him without ending up being PROVED WRONG YET AGAIN. I thought of him when I bought my ticket. He'd admitted a couple of years later that he was completely over them; shrugged them off as a teenage phase. I got over my issues with him, most definitely a stroppy teenage phase. Speaking of mainstream, my companion and I were on the floor, and she expressed some horror that people could possibly remain in their seats. I thought it quite funny that the band played "Friday I'm In Love" - and half the seateds saw that song as their cue to stand up and dance. Apparently there were a fair number of people there who are just as mainstream as I am. Granted the rest of the bums in the seats were apparently hardcore fans, and were ALL up and dancing for the encores, comprising all the songs I'd never heard because I was still at primary school. My companion was swooning with delight (although she's not really that much older than me).

ANYWAY, observations already written by everyone else. Acoustics in the arena: patchy. Perfect volume, but there was an echo that mushed up all the middle registers. I have to say kudos to the Vector peeps for not overbooking the floor. Robert Smith: tell you what, he sounds just as good now as he ever did, note perfect and stunning clear voice. He said there wouldn't be much talking between songs because he was protecting his voice, and while I was quite keen to hear some extra words of wisdom from the pasty-faced one, it's obviously done him well. He just stood there in t-shirt and camo pants with his head to one side and a ghoulish grin, and sang and played - pretty much the performance I'd expect from him. Three-hour set: after the first two hours I thought "wow, what an awesome gig...and we still have a whole gig's worth to go!" stoked. And one pretty random observation straight from me: the drums Really Make that band, I mean - the songs are fantastic anyway, and possibly it's just that the vocals and drums got the best sound, but it really struck me at how the rhythm really brings out the funkiness in their - err - funkier tracks... kudos to the one member I've not seen mentioned anywhere except band member lineups - Jason Cooper.

What else? I got my arse felt up by some random that'd moved out of the way to let me in. Punched him in the arm and pointed menacingly, but it was only my companion that was aware of the damage he escaped by virtue of my self-control, I think. What the hell kind of sadsack opportunist is thinking about copping a feel at such a landmark gig anyway?? Hell, the best thing about the gig was everyone was really happy to be there. There were a few guys in full goth regalia wandering around & brooding (despite ANY hardcore cure fan telling you that they're NOT A GOTH BAND) & generally looking awesome, goths have the coolest jackets. Other than them (and after all, it's in their job description to be sullen) and despite a few blog criticisms, from what I could see almost everyone there was Really Into It. They were bopping playfully in the seats, on the floor there was a the whole gamut of goofy grins, wide-eyed enthusiasm, and eyes closed in full concentration. Awesome.

The Cure, The Cure & The Cure
August 14th, 2007
Vector Arena

Earworm: pre-gig, Just Like Heaven. post-gig, Fire In Cairo.
Rating: 34 songs, three hours - never enough.