Aug. 25th-New Orleans,La. (UNO Lakefront Arena)

Review by Craig Parker

For the second show in a row,I get to the arena before a big thunderstorm
hits.A good omen.

6:50-doors open
8:05-setlists taped to stage
8:25-lights out,start of Want

Robert's wearing a grey shirt(no hockey team in New Orleans),Simon's got his
skirt and the black pants with the white stripes up the side.Perry's in his 
t-shirt and jeans.Roger's in black.I don't remember what Jason had on.

The show starts with a great version of Want,then goes straight into Club
America(which somehow,I really like now),then Robert says "Thank Q,and hello
again".Then right into a fantastic version of Fascination St. with the new
opening guitar bit.This was much better than the Houston version,which 
seemed to be lacking something.Once again Robert substitutes "Bourbon St."
for "Fascination St." for one line.
"This is another one from Disintegration" as the band start another great
version of Lullaby with the dazzling lights.
"Thank Q.At the moment it's like a tennis match between these two records,
but it will..there'll be some very weird songs tonight,but......this is 
actually one of them" before Strange Attraction.How anyone could not like
this,is beyond me.It's the best piece of pop they've recorded in years.And
the live versions are absolutely infectious.
"It is still like a tennis match,I didn't realize this when I wrote them 
down,it goes backwards and forwards.This is a lie" before another beautiful
version of this great song.I love Jason's playing on the extra drums,and the
echo on the vocals.Robert does forget 2 lines tonight,but we don't mind.Then
it's straight into Just Like Heaven which,of course sparks a big reaction 
from a rather lethargic crowd.Not much else to say on this one,except it was
done flawlessly.
"We're still going back to the..Don't worry,I'll start to communicate
shortly,unless I..." comes before a nice rendition of Jupiter Crash.I found
this a bit flat in Houston,but being able to see the full light show helped
me enjoy it a lot more tonight.Round+Round+Round followed,and I still don't
care for it.I haven't figured out why though.
It's at this point in the show where I started worrying that this would be
a short show,or full of singles.I should have known better.
"And it's still,we're going between two albums,I don't know the fucking
problem,but I must have been mad,you know I'm thinking it's really 
different,this is another song from Disintegration,it's called Lovesong"
before the start of another excellent version of this classic.Not quite as
sad as the Houston version,but still excellent."Q"
"And still it goes on,this battle between the two albums,it's like(mumbles),
although this is where it changes after this song,it's called Mint Caaaaar"
which gets the biggest crowd reaction so far.A great version of a song I
dislike,but again,it's hard not to get caught up in it.
"A departure,this ones from the Kiss Me album,still a single,but it's moving
in the right direction.It's called Catch" comes before a perfect version of
one of the most underrated singles.No forgotten lyrics,and perfect playing.
"Thank Q.Uhh,this is a song..I don't think...I can't remember the last time
we did it,7 years?.....maybe 7 months ago....it's called The Drowning Man".
I really can't tell you how I felt as this was announced,I was in a state of
shock.Then it starts,and I'm surprised by how many people
seem to know it.It's simply stunning.You'd swear they must have been playing
it every night for it to sound this good.The stage is lit only by a few 
white lights,creating a perfect eerie atmosphere.A girl near me was just
sobbing through the whole song.Jason did a superb job on this,as did 
everyone else.Robert keeps repeating "breathing like the drowning man"
until the end of the song.Absolutely outstanding.
"Thank Q.Another one that doesn't come out the cup that much,this is from 
the Kiss Me album and it's called The Kiss".This is even better than the
excellent Houston version.Super guitar playing,Jason doing another excellent
job on drums.It's very intense tonight with Robert changing the last lines 
to "I wish I was dead,I wish I was dead".Brilliant red,yellow and white
lights flashing all across the stage.The crowd gives a big ovation to this.
"Thank Q (mumbles)" as they start Charlotte Sometimes.I'm so happy to hear
this again.Although it's played a lot,I've only heard it live once,
and that was back at my first Cure show in 1987.This is the song that
brought me into the Cure universe,and it sounds as brilliant as the first 
time I heard it.Heartbreaking.
"There's like a whole glut of songs we haven't played in years.Apparently
'cause we're in New Orleans,and it's a dark kind of city.I will see if 
that's true again later.This is called If Only Tonight We Could Sleep".
The surprises just keep coming.Great guitar again.The lights on this
are fantastic.Maybe the best of the night."Thank Q"
"(mumbles),coming from The Top album,this is called Dressing Up".I'm running
out of words to describe the brilliance of the show.This featured great 
keyboards and bass."Thank Q"
"Strange song.Takes me back to a room full of perfect pillows."
"(mumbles) we constantly go back to.Yeah,I know I'm talking about this shit"
as we return to the new stuff with Return.This really breaks the mood
set by the 
previous 5 songs.But it's a lot of fun tonight.Then it's right into 
Treasure which was much better with the full effect of the light show.Also,
it seemed sadder tonight.
Then it's another great version of Trap.I love this live.The lights once 
again are great on this.Perry and Robert do a great job on the guitars.
An exceptional version of Prayers for Rain is next.Very intense,everyone
shines on this.Robert holds "Raiiiiiin" for 19 seconds.Outstanding.
It's followed once again by Inbetween Days.And once again it seems so out of
place in the set.I think it should be after Return,so it doesn't break the
flow of the intense songs.Still,it's quite good.
Edge of the Deep Green Sea gets things back on track.A great version,but 
Roger's keyboards are too high in the mix,and I still miss Porl on the solo.
Next up was an absolute killer version of Bare.Very sad and moody.Robert
does the different voice again.Robert changes the words around at the end,
and looks very upset afterwards.
I thought for sure that would be it,and we wouldn't get Disintegration.But
we did,and what a version!The fast Entreat version,and Robert gets most of
the lyrics right.Robert doesn't do the proper solo,but it's still fantastic.
"Thank Q"

10:25
And thus ends one of the greatest sets I've ever seen.I was wondering what
else they could possibly do in the encores to top it.I knew there was one
song,but I really didn't think we'd be lucky enough to get that too.

"Thankyouverymuch.Well this for a change,I know we haven't done this,I know
we haven't done it...(turning to the band)Speak up now if we've done it.We
haven't ever done this.And let's hope you don't find out why" starts the
first encore as the band totally surprise everyone with The 13th.Most of the
song sounds really good,but Roger needs to work on the keyboards.For 
one of the big horn parts,Roger has the wrong sample programmed,Robert gives
him a look and Roger just cracks up and shakes his head before correcting 
it.The crowd went wild for this and was dancing and singing along."Thank Q"
"And in a similar kind of mood" as they started a demented version of Hot Hot
Hot.Robert forgets the first verse,the chorus is totally whacked out,and
Robert just starts acting crazy.
Then it's into a brilliant version of Let's go to Bed.Robert starts out 
playing the guitar as the song starts and plays part of Tequila before
taking off the guitar to walk around the stage.
And then to close the 1st encore we get a great jazzy version of Why Can't I
Be You.Robert does the standard right side/left side serenade,then comes the
break where we get Witchcraft and Young at Heart.Then Robert turns to Roger
and says "Can you play me some jazz?Can you do jazz?Can we do jazz?",Roger
responds by playing some jazzy keyboards and Jason does some scat on the
drums while Robert starts singing Moon River,but changes the first line
to
"Old Man River".Not a jazz song,but so what?
Then it's Lovecats.First just Robert,then again with the band.Then it's back
into WCIBY."Thank you very much.Thank Q"

"Thankyouverymuch" as the final encore begins with a nice version of Boy's
Don't Cry then immediately into 10:15 Saturday Night.Robert lets out a howl
in the middle of the song and the drips last forever tonight.The best
version I've heard of this song.
Killing an Arab is next and it's very fast and intense.No way near as crazed
as the 1989 version,but still great.Simon running all around the stage on 
this one.
There was a pause after this,as Robert walked behind Roger,then walked back
to the stage and stood frozen while a crewmember set the mike back up.
I knew they weren't going to do A Forest,so I was wondering if it was 
possible that they might actually do the one song I wanted to hear the most.

"Q" then the opening notes of Faith,and I was stunned.No it wasn't the best version
ever.Perry stayed onstage for it,and played most of the parts.He screwed up
a few times,but so what.The 89 versions will never be topped.This was damn 
good nevertheless.No extra lyrics,but some great guitar parts by Robert to 
end the song.Robert then walks off stage,then Simon and Perry stop and walk
off,leaving Roger and Jason playing some great parts.Roger leaves,Robert 
comes back to say "Q very much and see you again.Thank Q.Thank You" 

11:15 lights on

There's not much more to say.It was the best show I've seen,
and I never thought that anything could top the 89 shows.It's quite obvious
that The Cure are once again at the top of their game.It's just a shame it's
being wasted on such small crowds.Why hasn't the word gotten out about the
fantastic shows they're currently doing? Where are all the old fans?

Oh well,there's nothing I can do about that.I do know that I'll remember 
this night for quite a long time.Now it's on to Mobile and what I'm sure 
will be a more normal set.