Two days later I'm still walking around in awe. I never thought I'd see a better show than U2 last year, but now I have. Truly outstanding.
People thought I was mad going all the way from ChCh to Auckland just for a Tuesday night gig, but I waited 20 years to see these guys and they delivered. It was quite surreal really, jumping on the plane with a small carry bag I got picked up by Chauffeur Cat and was whisked into town for a quick catchup with the old workmates, before checking into a backpackers on Queen Street. That in itself was odd, not to mention running into an old tramping buddy while ordering souvlaki, I thought the Jaffabowl was too big for random things like that!
Anyway, the show. More than three hours. Three encores. Full house on their feet. All the era's were covered, so many highlights its impossible to bring one out front. What blows me away the most about The Cure is their diversity of styles, goth, rock, post punk, alternative, pop, a hint of dance- its all there. And one look around the crowd told you this diversity is reflected in the fan base with young, middle and old from all walks of life in attendance.
And its just that diversity that kept it real and interesting for 3 hours. I don't think I've ever seen a major act that has played with such reverence and respect for their fans- and with a 30 year back catalogue its helpful I'm sure. As hard as I try I simply cannot think of one song they played that was a dud. Not even Faith, which apparently they never play.
Probably, to nit pick, there was only one thing missing, and that was keyboards. But it didn't really matter, it just meant a few songs like Close to Me and Prayers for Rain had to miss out. Simon Gallup- man can that guy play the bass. I've always been a fan of Porl on guitar too so I think this incarnation of The Cure is as good as you can see. Although Lol Tolhurst would be handy...
And I haven't even said anything about how freakin timeless and amazing Robert Smith is- the greatest poet I've heard. When are they going to knight him?
I'm still in awe and will be for a long time....11 out of 10 folks!
Heres the setlist for the trainspotters....any Cure fans in NZ who missed this should hang their heads in shame!
MAIN SET: Tape, Open, Fascination Street, Alt.End, The Blood, The Walk, Love Song, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot!!!, Push, In Between Days, Friday I'm In Love, Just Like Heaven, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, The Kiss, Shake Dog Shake, Never Enough, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, Shiver and Shake, End
ENCORE 1: Plain Song,Disintegration,Faith
ENCORE 2: Three Imaginary Boys,Fire In Cairo,Boys Don't Cry, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Grinding Halt, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab
ENCORE 3: A Forest
People thought I was mad going all the way from ChCh to Auckland just for a Tuesday night gig, but I waited 20 years to see these guys and they delivered. It was quite surreal really, jumping on the plane with a small carry bag I got picked up by Chauffeur Cat and was whisked into town for a quick catchup with the old workmates, before checking into a backpackers on Queen Street. That in itself was odd, not to mention running into an old tramping buddy while ordering souvlaki, I thought the Jaffabowl was too big for random things like that!
Anyway, the show. More than three hours. Three encores. Full house on their feet. All the era's were covered, so many highlights its impossible to bring one out front. What blows me away the most about The Cure is their diversity of styles, goth, rock, post punk, alternative, pop, a hint of dance- its all there. And one look around the crowd told you this diversity is reflected in the fan base with young, middle and old from all walks of life in attendance.
And its just that diversity that kept it real and interesting for 3 hours. I don't think I've ever seen a major act that has played with such reverence and respect for their fans- and with a 30 year back catalogue its helpful I'm sure. As hard as I try I simply cannot think of one song they played that was a dud. Not even Faith, which apparently they never play.
Probably, to nit pick, there was only one thing missing, and that was keyboards. But it didn't really matter, it just meant a few songs like Close to Me and Prayers for Rain had to miss out. Simon Gallup- man can that guy play the bass. I've always been a fan of Porl on guitar too so I think this incarnation of The Cure is as good as you can see. Although Lol Tolhurst would be handy...
And I haven't even said anything about how freakin timeless and amazing Robert Smith is- the greatest poet I've heard. When are they going to knight him?
I'm still in awe and will be for a long time....11 out of 10 folks!
Heres the setlist for the trainspotters....any Cure fans in NZ who missed this should hang their heads in shame!
MAIN SET: Tape, Open, Fascination Street, Alt.End, The Blood, The Walk, Love Song, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Hot Hot Hot!!!, Push, In Between Days, Friday I'm In Love, Just Like Heaven, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, The Kiss, Shake Dog Shake, Never Enough, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, Shiver and Shake, End
ENCORE 1: Plain Song,Disintegration,Faith
ENCORE 2: Three Imaginary Boys,Fire In Cairo,Boys Don't Cry, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Grinding Halt, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab
ENCORE 3: A Forest
2 comments:
So they were ok were they?
Only shame is they stopped playing after three hours
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