The Curiosa Festival 2004

Aug. 29th, 2004 - Sacramento, Ca. (Arco Arena)

Lost, Plainsong, Labyrinth, Fascination Street, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, High, The End of the World, Anniversary, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Before Three, alt.end, Disintegration, One Hundred Years, The Promise

Encore: Faith (dedicated to the Curiosa bands), Going Nowhere.

Note: The Drowning Man and Charlotte Sometimes were listed for the encore, but not played. Also, Head Automatica cancelled. Scarling took their timeslot, so the show started at 4:30. Like the San Diego show.

(Thanks to Nikjam and Jodi for the setlist and notes)


Photos

COF - Spiggy



Reviews

From the Sacramento Bee:

Review: Cure gives festival a welcome dose of good rockin'
By Chris Macias -- Bee Pop Music Critic

Curiosa Festival bands such as Mogwai, Interpol, Cursive and the Rapture probably will never come close to selling 1 million records. But a commercial juggernaut wasn't the point of Sunday's six-hour event.

Instead, Curiosa was a chance to discover some of alternative rock's best buzz bands, topped by a knockout set from The Cure.

The venues were Arco Arena's main stage and a "B" stage in the parking lot, where the 100-degree heat tested the functionality of all-black garb. The indoor concourse featured a "4-H" type of marketplace that's typical of alternative-rock festivals (henna tattoos, hair dye, head-shop wares and human rights booths).

But not all was ideal. Sunday's turnout for Curiosa was fairly dismal: 5,000, about one-third of the venue's capacity.

Curiosa still succeeded in bridging the alternative-rock generations. The crowd was balanced between aging hipsters and new-jack goths breaking in their "Creepers" shoes.

Musically, the show mixed progressive and arty sounds with touchstones from the past. The Cure's influence infused the younger bands, especially in the Robert Smith-like howl of Luke Jenner, singer for The Rapture. The Rapture's smart and funky brand of post-punk also referenced Konk, an underground dance band from the 1980s.

Interpol also performed a solid set that contained some Cure-isms, such as the dreamy guitar line in "Slow Hands." The band's mix of deadpan vocal delivery and edgy guitar jangle was further rooted in Joy Division, the long-defunct band that in turn influenced The Cure.

The revelation of Curiosa was ultimately in how powerful and relevant The Cure sounded in its headlining slot. The band might best be enjoyed by the flicker of a candle at 3 a.m., but at concert volume, it was easy to get swept away in The Cure's atmospherics and density.

"From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea," a tune from its 1992 "Wish" album, was a stunning swirl of guitars and keyboard. Its poppier hits, such as "Just Like Heaven" and "In Between Days," rang punchy as ever. "The End of the World," one of The Cure's new songs, also hit much harder live than the recorded version.

Despite the sonic doom and gloom, The Cure's Smith isn't really hopeless. He's actually a hopeless romantic who sings songs titled "Pictures of You" and "Just Like Heaven."

It wouldn't have been surprising if The Cure turned out a sluggish show. Sunday marked the festival's end, a time by which many bands are simply burned out.

Instead, The Cure bade farewell after a month on the road at peak powers.

Too bad The Cure's set ended on a plodding note with "Faith" and "Going Nowhere." For such an otherwise powerful set, this downer of a finale was the most curious part of Curiosa.

(Thanks Brian)


Following The Cure for the past 4 years I found a climatic point on August 29th here in Sacramento.  Although, I long to only see them live again, I am still unsure how soon that will be.  Having The Cure Trilogy Release of the Berlin Live Recording, I have watched them over and over again!  I love The Cure!!!
The Concert was phenomenal.  Standing in the pit has never been so great!  The five of them played One Hundred Years, Pictures Of You, Faith, End Of The World, Alt.End, Fascination Street (incredible), Just Like Heaven.... and more.
Mino and I (Alana) were apart of the The Cure Street Team and did as much promotional work as we could for this event. Originally from Hawaii, we would love to see the community grow here in Sacramento.... fans you have to throw flowers on the stage, envelopes, hold up signs, shout, sing, cry, be happy....... be moved and show the band your passion.  Great to all those who do, by hanging out by The Cures tour bus for hours until they are done partying back stage just to meet them!  Not joking, this actually happened.  The group of friends were from LA.  Longing to of experienced that myself, I now wish I had waited there too until 3:00am.
I have been to two concerts here and compared to Cleveland obviously or Hawaii the crowd is mild and tame.  Robert Smith is amazing and I give
all my Mahalos to him and the group for giving Sacramento a fabulous show.  If we could of afforded it Mino and I would of jumped on a plane
to Seattle to see them one last time!
 
Luv for the cure my melting awakening heart........ 

- Alana


deflated and defeated during most of the set, i walked away clutching a few threads of hope. evidence of the night’s incongruity began cropping up
somewhere in the middle of interpol’s perfectly polished and delivered recitation (i really, really love interpol—they are one of my favourite new
bands—but jesus, having seen them three nights in a row, it was almost sickening to see their music unfold like a high school play, down to lighting their cigarettes at the exact same time and breaking “pda” at the exact same moment. contrast this to the cure, who breathe new life into every song almost every time i see them, and it’s clear the young interpol could learn a thing or two from their headlining mentor.) when hipster types brashly jutted in front of us and started, as my friend quite aptly put it, “ballroom dancing.” i am all for dancing at shows and letting the music flow through your body. however, when you’re in an exceedingly crowded area where everyone is competing for glimpses of the stage and even breathing room is a commodity, dancing extravagantly with a partner is highly inappropriate, i think. i’m not completely against it, but take it to the back, people!
when interpol exited the stage, my friend and i were able to move forward, mostly through the good fortune of other people’s beverage and bathroom
needs. by the time the lights dimmed again, we found ourselves happily (albeit very tightly) planted mere feet from the stage, in line with robert’s mic. sadly, fights broke out almost immediately, disrupting the should-be-magical mood of the night. as much as i tried to ignore it (as i mostly managed to do during similar, though less frequent occurrences in san francisco and carson), the intervention of security and the constant pushing made it very difficult. that aside, things were running relatively smoothly until “inbetween days” when one rather obnoxious fellow finagled his way right in back of me, practically knocking over two other girls in the process. i’m sorry, but what the fuck is up with that?! i know you’re basically on your own in the pit, but domineering your way to the front by sheer mass alone is just ridiculously rude—especially when done in the middle of the set. maybe i’m just glorifying the good old days, but i swear it never was like this at a cure show of all places! has common courtesy ceased to exist in even the most cherished corners of the planet? it seems so. i was irked enough as it was that suddenly i had this rather large thrashing individual behind me, whose every move banged the back of my head, but i took a deep breath, reminded myself of where i was and of the five figures who stood majestically before me, and made my best effort to enjoy the show. but then the most terrible thing in the world happened: the fucker started to sing! and i don’t mean at certain favoured parts or in a low, barely audible voice. no—this guy was really belting out the lyrics (right or not) as loudly as he could. it was as if he was trying to duel with robert, and there i was at the center of it, hoping to god he would choke on his own spit. i know that sounds extraordinarily cruel, but his behavior was despicably appalling—and judging from the reactions of everyone around, i could tell i wasn’t alone in my thoughts. unfortunately, too, the cure entered the pop string in their set, which meant the guy was (somewhat) familiar with these radio-happy songs and the torture continued. unbelievably the cure “honored” his incessant request for “lullaby,” and i’ll admit it was a fantastic version complete with fanciful gestures and delectable hissing. thankfully, this gave way to a slight reprieve from mister belligerence, as he didn’t seem to have a copy of the new album…or maybe his body and voice needed a break, but he was on fire again for “one hundred years,” which is when i lost it. i wheeled around, scarcely able to control my fists and admittedly not very polite when i told him that no one had paid to come hear him sing. i don’t know if he heard me or not, but he said, “excuse me?” to which i not-so-nicely replied, “you need to stop singing!” what did my choice words earn but his decision to hum to the instruments too?! OH MY GOD, i was irate. but i don’t know. i guess i just don’t get aggressive or violent, instead i started hysterically laughing at how ridiculous this all was—and strangely he shut up for the rest of the evening. just in time, cos right then, out of nowhere, an eight-foot giant lodged himself between me and my friend. i was aghast, but also had given up on humanity at that point. we were all base creatures in this abysmal pit. like wretched souls in the face of celestial sound, we struggled for redemption. and absolution. it’s what i, symbolized by my hands, which are always clasped in undying reverence, can count on with every cure show i attend.
[my heart, too, is with the two girls and one guy—hope there was no one else—who fainted. i hope to god you are well…]
i wanted to write in sooner but decided to wait a day in hopes of gaining some perspective on the show—a wordsworthian approach perhaps. having
traveled (both physically and mentally) many miles in the last few days, i also needed to recover somewhat…and my reflective thoughts have led me here: it is unfortunate to say that a few rambunctious members of the crowd definitely hindered this final curiosa show for me, and yet it is my own
greed too that brought me there. why must i try to be as close to the stage as possible? maybe i’m as guilty as those i seek to blame…i certainly don’t
feel above it. and ultimately the magnitude of the music did leave lasting impact. sacramento was the first time i had the immense pleasure of hearing
the gorgeous “anniversary” live, and it absolutely floored me, though after reading other people’s posts, it seems i am alone in this. and while shane
and i (hello shane! :)) were pining for “the drowning man” before the show, i couldn’t have asked for a better encore. “faith” was unspeakably pure and haunting. i stood there, sometimes agape, sometimes mouthing those beautiful words that have often steadied me, resurrected me, when nothing else could. meanwhile, the gently hollow “going nowhere” really felt like that last, forced, immensely tender good-bye embrace where you’re desperately grasping for more time and are yet simultaneously numb because you’ve already welled and cried all the tears your body could possibly shed. and so, though everett beckons, i sink back for the moment (or the next few thousand) and resume my monotonous existence, opening my arms wide and slowly letting the passion build again…..

- Rayna Khaitan

    I made the mistake of reading a couple of the Sacramento reviews before I posted mine.  Big mistake.  I agreed with some and disagreed with others.  It affected my review somewhat and I apologize.
    Sunday's show was the last of 5 straight Cure shows in 6 days.  The physical and mental strain of 3 shows in 3 days took it's toll.  When I got home on monday morning after about two hours of sleep, all I could muster was take a long drive, unwind from the hours of standing in the sun waiting for the gates to open, and rest from the hours of standing watching all the great bands perform.  I'm not complaining don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't have changed anything during this incredible week...well except for the horrible and lifeless San Francisco crowd like I was telling you in the other review.
          The crowd was enthusiastic from the beginning.  The people around me were yelling, screaming, and dancing practically nonstop.  I was glad to be on the left side because the people in the middle and especially in the very front were being punished by the fans trying somehow to get to the front.  Security had to come into the crowd and calm the situation down.  It took something away from the concert.  I saw Roger looking down with concern.  It's too bad really.  But, I've seen it so many times in the past.  There was this young girl.  She had to be around 12 or 13.  It was her very first Cure show.  She was there with her mom.  To see her face been and have that look of complete and utter awe when Robert walked over to us during Plainsong is something I will never forget.  I'm sure neither will she as well!!!
                 During Labyrinth, Perry was absolutely wailing away on his guitar.  I know most everyone just checks out Robert during the show.  However, watch Perry every now and then.  For that matter, check out everyone else.  I watched Jason pretty much the entire time.  I liked jungle like beat.  It's quite infectious.
      During Fascination Street, Roger and Robert smiled at each other.  I did Robert's move during the song and Roger smiled at me.  It was priceless.
     They looked at me when they played High.  The crowd yelled especially this girl who was standing just to the left of me.  It was so loud even with my ear plugs!!!
     During Lullaby, Robert takes an imaginary puff and leans backwards like he was high.  The crowd around me claped and went bezerk.
     Just Like Heaven.  I did Robert's move and Roger again looks straight at me and smiles.  It's great to see him smile during the shows.  At the beginning of the concert, he was smiling at the people who had these bright green signs.  I remember one saying something like Robert and Simon make up.  Two other people in the back had white signs saying High and Cut.  You should have seen them when they did play High.  Even I could hear them from where I was standing.
     I threw Roger a sports car book.  Then, I tried to give him a letter.  Unfortunately, the letter flew up and in a circle and spiralled down falling well short of the mark.  Roger, who was watching the entire time, looked up and smiled as if to say, Nice toss.  As one fo the roadies took the book offstage, Roger reached out with his hands as if someone took something extremely valuable from him.  I glanced over at the roadies and they were leafing through the book.  They even showed Roger a picture of a car and he nodded with approval as he smiled once again.
                 I was glad they played 100 Years again.  When it got towards the end of their set, I wasn't sure if I would hear it again for the last time this summer.  I noticed people wearing gas masks projected on the video screen.  I think that was one of the first times I've actually noticed something in detail when I hear it live.  I usually go completely insane singing and dancing around so much that the person behind me had to reach out with their hand because I was jumping around so much. 
     I liked how they ended their set with The Promise instead of Disintegration (which they played as well).  It was a nice change of pace.  I was surprised beyond belief when I heard the first notes to Faith.  I can only think it's a thank you to all the bands that played at the shows and to all the people who attended this summer.  All the bands thanked The Cure.  Ending the night with Going Nowhere was a great way to end the concert.  I'm so glad I bought the album and heard this song and the other great ones too.  I'm definitely going to attempt to play this on the piano.  I can only try to play it half as good as Roger does.
                Now that I'm somewhat rested from the travelling, driving, and all the Cure experiences this past week, I'm honored to have seen EVERY band that played The Curiosa Tour.  I loved Mogwai and their guitar string breaking and feedback ending to My Father.  I'll never forget Luke from The Rapture high fiving everyone after the San Diego and Phoenix shows and getting his autograph twice.  Thanks to Vito for coming down to sign autographs just before they started their set on Sunday.  I think Interpol is going to be one of my new favorite bands.  Thank you Robert for adding them to this festival.  I'm definitely going to buy all their CDs.  They rock...pure and simple.  Now, I can say I've seen them 5 times in concert.  I'm quite luck to have been able to see these 5 Cure shows last week.  Looking back at it all, it's been one heck of a ride.  I don't really think the audience can truly affect my Cure concert experience.  What really irks me is when they don't even clap!!!  Fortunately, the crowd at this show was good...at least where I was standing.  The bands fed off our enthusiasm and we were rewarded with a great concert from start to finish.  Well, that's it folks.  This has been one of the most memorable weeks in my life.  I went from seeing two shows in two days to seeing 3 Cure shows in 3 days in 3 different cities.  My thanks to The Cure  for their kick ass concerts, for including all the other bands as well as all the other bands that performed on the "second stage", and memories that will never be forgotten thanks to sites like yours.  I think that's the greatest thing about festivals like this one.  I was there just to see The Cure.  Fortunately, now I have 10 other bands that I really want to hear and buy their music.
 
- Marc Subia
 

Wow. I don't quite understand the negative feedback about Sacramento that's been going on here.  Of the 7 Curiosa shows we were at, the last was the best. *7* songs from the new album??! Thank god.

What a break from Prayer Tour II! It's not like I don't like Disintigration, but it's been done.  I don't go to see the Cure because I wan't to wax nostalgic about what I used to listen to - I go to hear a current and vital band still putting out amazing music. Besides, there is something missing from the current renditions of a lot of the Disintigration tracks.

To hear most of The Cure - designed to be played live - at this show was breathtaking. The Promise still gives me goosebumps every time I hear them play it.

Lost was excellent! Much much much better than the goofed catastrophe in NY.

Plainsong: yeah, it was Plainsong. As usual.

Labyrinth: The best rendition I've heard. It was definitely weaker earlier on in the tour...

Fascination Street: I never thought this song could get beaten to death. All I could think about during it was my stiff legs...

Edge of the Deep Green Sea: They actually pulled this off. It's been a long time since I've heard them play this so well....

High: I liked hearing it earlier in the tour, but something was really really mixed oddly here. Couldn't place what it was, but it took me a few seconds longer than it should have to even recognize the song.

The End of the World: This has been good live every time and Sacramento didn't disappoint. It is pop and it's *good* pop :)

Anniversary: My wife (the poster kid) is a huge fan of this live...I definitely prefer the album version, though. Still, it wasn't bad at all. It's a good track.

Inbetween Days: It was what it was :)

Just Like Heaven: You can't help but loving this every time they play it. I don't remember the details because I was too busy singing and dancing

Pictures of You: Again...yeah..

Lullaby: I love this song on the album. I like watching Robert perform it. I dont care for it at festivals...maybe if I was sitting down?

Before Three: I'm completely in love with this song...it wasn't substantially better/worse than at the other shows.

Alt.End: Yay.  I definitely know why this will be a single.  It rocked. As usual.

Disintigration: Actually was a let down compared to San Francisco. In San Fran he *ripped* this song to shreds and spat it out. It was amazing. This was so-so at Sac...

One Hundred Years: Excellent. Feels like the world is ending when they play it.

The Promise: Oh My God. Oh My God. I've never ever been to a show (of any band) where they've topped this song at Sacramento.

Faith: Mmmm. It's actually far from my favorite song, but right after the Promise...it  was unreal.  Even some of the security were moving their heads slowly to it...

Going Nowhere: I've held off listening to this to save some new music for later. This absolutely gorgeous. Perfect. Not sure how to express it...

You may have noticed that I don't have much to say about how most of the songs sounded that night - that's because comparatively, they played a fairly strong show without too many notable goofs, solo's, funny comments, etc.

The indoor thing was a nice change - especially for Interpol, Mogwai, and Rapture. The sound dynamics were so much better than at San Francisco (which was tuned up far to high).  The smallness of the space probably helped the sound as well...

The crowd around Spiggy and I were pretty cool, with only a couple of notable exceptions (who invited the redneck family? They were really picking some fights with people).

Overall, it was a solid ended to the festival tour.

Hello to everyone who stayed around at the unofficial stalker afterparty waiting for Robert to (as he eventually did) wander out.  I'm going to miss spending nights like that once in awhile.

- Jack Whitsitt (jofny)


Well, finally reached the double digits on how many Cure concerts I’ve been to.  Yes, this was number 10.  Unfortunately this was the only one
I could possibly make on the Curiosa Tour.  I’ll get to the point and try not to repeat anything that’s already been submitted.

My first impression of Roger was that he was not himself that night.  Through the first 4-5 songs he just did not look well.   I wasn’t sure if he was sick or maybe tired of touring or what, I did notice after a while he was just staring disapprovingly at the fights in the crowd.  Finally something gave him a big smile and he seemed somewhat cheerful the rest of the show.

Lullaby, had a digital delay effect on the mic for some of the lyrics towards the end.  Who knows, maybe it’s been like that for years and it was the first time I’ve ever noticed it, but it sounded great.

100 Years.  Best song of the show.  I’m usually one that’s open to and accepting of other peoples’ opinions, but if you disagree on this you’re an idiot.

Faith, a great surprise and a great reward, given the somewhat disappointing set list.  Some additional/improvised lyrics before the last repeating bit of “Nothing left but faith…” (possibly Forever… can anyone else pitch in on what this was?).

Anyway, given my last shows were Coachella and Inland Invasion, where I just seemed bored at times, and maybe because this was the closest I’ve
been since the show at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.  Nonetheless, I had an incredible time, and despite the popular opinion that seems to be about this show, I would put the overall experience in the top 4 shows I’ve been to.  Of course, it’s been 8 years since my drive home from a show has been less than 3 hours long.  In addition, I was pleasantly surprised with the sound inside Arco Arena, which I never have been overly fond of.

- Mike Miller


I went to the Sac show over the weekend - it was my first Cure show ever.  I am 30 and have listened to the Cure probably since i was 15 or so...  Anyways, I was sad to read the reviews - they were, for the most part, very negative.  I actually thought the show was awesome.  The people around me were very happy - one guy sang all the songs and jumped, danced just as much as me.  I was on the floor and i loved it.  I guess i don't have any other cure show to compare it too, but just to see the Cure is pretty awesome.  I don't see how anyone can even complain about that.
 
Thank you so much for always having info, links, photos, tidbits, etc.  This was the first place i came to find the set list.  thanks for having it.
 
well, i had a great time at the show and i know others did too. thanks again for everything.  the experience was surreal.
 
- Mindy


Ok, so the show last night was definitely not as great an experience as SF the night before, but for me that had more to do with the venue than
anything (ok, the setlist a little). After reading the other reviews, however, I think a lot of people are basing their experiences at the shows on how others around them react to the songs and the band. What is that about?  I mean, I agree that no one near where I was on the floor knew most of the old songs, but at least they were there and excited (some so excited that they found it necessary to try to start fights over how close they could get). When a band has been around for this many years, naturally, fans discover them at different stages.  Isn't that why they release new stuff in the first place? To attract new listeners? To not become stagnant?  I met people yesterday who had seen them a dozen times; I met people who were excited to be there for the first time. Isn't that fantastic? Isn't that what it's all about? This whole "I'm more Cure than you" crap is just that, crap. It is so
interesting to think that some people think that everyone in the audience should be just the same. How terribly passé.

As far as the setlist, I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said except that I can't believe anyone was surprised by it. I am from SF, I live in Sac now. Of course SF would have the deeper, darker setlist than Sac; any fool who has been to either place would expect that. The only thing that surprised me was the encore. In fact, after the set, my friends were joking that they'd do a Faith encore. That was the most fantastic surprise of the day. I was thrilled and so were those around me. I was disappointed that they ran so late that they couldn't do Charlotte or Drowning Man, but Faith and Going Nowhere were great surprises. I had a good time at both shows. I liked SF's set better, but was thrilled that they played Sac so I got to see them twice. Whether the person standing next to me knew when to put their hands in the sky isn't going to take away from the experience of getting to see my favorite band perform again, and I thank the entire band for the tour. Please don't wait four years for the next North American tour!

- Elise


Well, the journey is over.  3 shows in 6 days.  Unfortunately, the worst was saved for last.
 
Apart from finally being able to hear Anniversary live, this show was weak.  And to boot, Anniversary didn't sound too good.  Finding out that The Drowning Man was on the setlist and not played only adds agony to all this. :(
 
I was closer to the stage as either of the previous shows, but that couldn't save the experience.  I actually moved to the back of the pit during Disintegration in hopes that the sound would improve, and it did help slightly.  That was short-lived though as Faith had terrible bassy feedback.  I had no idea where it was coming from, but very disappointing.
 
Well, I don't want to bore everyone with my complaints on this show.  From the looks of it, there are plenty complaints already written here, most that I would agree with.  I can still think of both Chula Vista and San Francisco fondly.  Chula vista for the great sound and great crowd, and SF for a great main set and wonderful full moon setting.
 
- Domenic


I'm agree with a lot of what was said about the crowd at Sacramento and just comment on the songs.

This was the first time I had seen them without seats.  We were on the floor and we were fairly close to the stage, and had dead center, great views of
everyone and the lighting etc, which I don't think you can appreciate the lighting effects if you are too close to the stage.  I was further back in
actual seats for the SF show, so it was quite a different experience.  So, Lost was much better live., which I think most of the new songs are much
better live.  I was excited to hear Labyrinth and I think Robert messed up some of the words.  But it's a tough song lyrically.  Again, I think Fascination Street sounded like it had a longer intro.  FTEOTDGS gets better and better every time.  High was a great surprise but was mixed badly.  I couldn't hear Robert's guitar at all.  Anniversary, I think sounds better on the cd.  It was kinda average.  I didn't feel the same emotion as the cd.the
next 4 singles got the crowd excited for a while.  Perry's guitar was a little hard sounding on Pictures of You.  Before 3 almost made me cry again.
I'm just shocked at my reaction to this song played live.  It reminds me of "The Loudest Sound."  On to the life-altering experience known as 100 years, disintegration, the promise.  This is so sick!  Robert just goes to town and you want to fall over in the presence of such greatness. I thought that
Robert seemed to be very emotional during Disintegration and almost crying or something, but I don't know.  It was just as powerful a version as SF
was. Seeing Robert play The Promise is worth the price of admission...just like seeing "The Kiss" live.  The encores were amazing with the added lyrics for Faith.  I thought it was going to be Drowning Man because he said "This is one we don't do very often."  And I wanted to die right then and there when Robert said "This is called Going Nowhere"  This is my absolute favorite song from the new stuff.  It's so incredibly sad and Robert's tone is so low and melancholy.  Roger is my hero in this song.  The absolute perfect way to end the night and the festival.  The Cure never disappoint me and I'm just amazed at how much their shows move me.  Seeing them live really is Just like Heaven.

- Drew


i was even closer to the stage than yesterday, which was exciting, because i was hoping for a glimpse at robert's shoes... i am just curious what he is wearing on his feet these days... already during the set-up, the crowd started packing into the stage area, giving everyone less than their own space... very opposite of the sf show, where it was crowded, but room to breathe... it was terribly hot and already i was sweating even before the show started, which i think is one of the worst feelings... feeling sweat dripping down your neck and having no room to even lift up your arm to wipe it off...

the lights went down and i was surrounded by the likes of stupid old frat men, who were already jumping up and down, and some pseudo alternative 15 year old kids who wouldn't shut up during the musical intro... and then robert took the stage... but he was wearing the exact same thing he wore the night before, a black button down and grey pants with little zip up pockets, ROBERT!!! why? you are a rock god, you can afford to change your clothes! he did his shy little walk in and looked on at the crowd, giving a smile and turning to his microphone, opened the show with the first song on the new album, (which should have been a warning to what the rest of the show would be like )... which is how it went, mostly new songs... i was also terribly dissapionted by plainsong and it was definitely not as strong as the night before- i guess the thing that bothered me the most was that nobody around me knew any of the older stuff and just went crazy when he played the new single, which i DETEST... it was really terrible energy, i was sweaty, and it made me feel let down.

when you have loved an artist/musician for so long and have listened to their albums over and over again, when you see them in real life it's almost surreal- like their they are, right there in front of my face- they are REAL... and robert smith let me down... he didn't play how i expected... it was obvious they were having some instrumental problems as well, the songs just didn't sound very strong- and really, i'm terribly bored by the new album- he finished up the set with the last song from it, and there is this huge distored guitar solo, who does robert think he is; van halen? it just felt wrong, and it pissed me off that the crowd around me was going estactic for crap.

when the lights went up, my looks were sour and disapointed-  oh robert smith, please don't let me down again, i am one of your faithful fans, been with you for years now... you need to keep some of your dignity, that fans like us expect from your shows.

-Kristin Cofer


I flew out from NY the morning of the Sacramento show to catch them live one last time in the states and took a red eye back as soon as the show
ended.  Saw them 3 weeks ago in Camden, a few days ago in Phoenix - both shows the crowd was totally into the Cure and showed their interest by
usual concert stuff...screaming, applauding, cheering, putting their hands up, or dancing.  Not sure what to say about Sacramento crowd - other
than incredibly lame!  I'm not even sure with the exception of maybe 200 people if the others wanted to be there at all.  Thank god for the two guys at the very front and center of the ga section, they were saving the day for the guys on stage!  I couldn't believe everyone was sitting down in the assigned seating areas and no one was remotely charged up or cheering (wait I'm sorry - when they played Just Like Heaven - what a joke).  I was surprised the band came back on for an encore after the dismal applause.  And certainly didn't blame them for not doing a second or third encore.  Won't ever see a show there again - those people need to lighten up, let loose, and have fun.  

- Lana


My impressions of the Sacramento Curiosa tour.

   - I didn't head to the B stage outside because I wasn't a fan of any of the B stage bands except Cooper Temple Clause, and I saw all the of the
B-stage bands in San Francisco and wanted to spare my already ringing ears some agony. For the Main Stage bands, I thought Mogwai sounded a little better in Sacramento than in San Francisco and I thought the Rapture was markedly better in Sacramento. I think they just sounded crisper. I'm a big Interpol fan, but their set started to sound repetitive to me on day 2.

   - My thoughts and observations on The Cure's set

       - I don't like Lost as the opener, as it just doesn't sound right to me live. I think Lost is the best song on The Cure, but I think it is the type of song that sounds better mixed in a studio than live. I don't think it worked well tonight either (although it was, in my opinion, considerably better than the version the band played in Coachella earlier this year).
       - The sound sounded like it was mixed too heavy to me until Fascination Street. I think Plainsong is always good live and was good tonight, but it didn't sound as clear as it should and I think the song was not as mesmerizing as usual (for comparison's sake, I think Plainsong at the San Francisco show had a hyptonizing effect. I wasn't feeling that tonight). I thought Labyrinth was mixed too loud as well and I don't think it sounded good at all.
       - From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea and High were fabulous. I didn't realize the Deep Green sea closely resembled Lemon-lime Gatorade
until seeing the background screen for the live performance, however.
       - Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Pictures of You, and Lullaby - Tonight was my 13th time seeing the band, so I have heard all these songs
live several times. Nothing unique to note, with the exception that Pictures of You sounded alot slower in tempo the last two nights than I'm used to hearing it. I thought Perry's guitar was tuined differently in Pictures of You as well tonight, and I think it is the best live version of the song I have ever heard.
       - I can see why they've been leaving Anniversary off of many of their set lists. The album version of the songs sounds, to me, sentimental and majestic. The live version just sounds like another song.
       - I think the best part of the show was alt.end onward. I hate alt.end on the album and I question why the band is using the song as a single, but I think it sounds better live than in studio (it's the polar opposite of Lost, in my opinion). I think One Hundred Years was the high point of the night, and watching Robert pound out the guitar in the Promise was amazing. Faith is my favorite song period (not just Cure song, song) and tonight's version didn't disappoint me. I've never heard Going Nowhere and was shocked they played a song I didn't know (outside of the B-sides/extras not on the US version of The Cure, I believe I have heard everything the band has ever recorded), but I know now the live version of the song is gorgeous. They should play this song more often.
       - I know parts of my review above sound critical, but I think overall the show tonight was fabulous. I think it had a few glitches, but it was still a memorable show. The highlights certainly outnumbered the lowlights for me, and I will think back fondly in the future on this wonderful night.

- Houdi Mack


First off, want to say 'Q' to Robert for deciding to play Anniversary on my wife and I's 12th anniversary.  I thought Mogwai's wall of frenetic sound had blown my ears out, but as The Promise reached it's crescendo, revolving around and around, filling every corner of the arena-- that is now the new definition of "blowing the roof off the joint."  It was good to be in the smaller venue; it might have been the same last night as well (couldn't really see), but all the band members seemed to really enjoy the show and the fans.  Robert's little jig during the intro to Disintegration was unexpected, and humorous (in a good way).  It was nice to have the dreamy encore as opposed to SF's-- Faith had additional lyrics (don't ask), and Going Nowhere was the perfect end to the night.  Once again, Thank YOU, Robert!
 
- curedtigger

 


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