Aug. 27th-Mobile,Al. (Civic Center Arena)

Cure concert "well worth the wait"

by Carol Cain of the Mobile Press Register

The Cure's new album,"Wild Mood Swings," lives up to it's name with dramatic
shifts from delicate keyboard arrangements to grinding guitars.The groups
first studio release in four years,it was well worth the wait--and so was
Tuesday's concert promoting the record in  the Mobile Civic Center.

Singer/guitarist Robert Smith,drummer Jason Cooper,keyboardist Roger 
O'Donnell,bassist Simon Gallup and multi-instrumentalist Perry Bamonte are 
all in their 30's now,and they largely have shed their angry,angst-ridden
image.

Instead,they seemed to be having a fine time playing for an audience that
was mostly young and garbed in black to emulate Smith's early "Goth" look.
(And here's a creepy thought:At 37,Smith is old enough to be the father of
many of his admirers.Yikes.)

Most of the 3,500 fans rushed the stage as soon as the singer struck his 
first note swathed in faux fog from a smoke machine.The listeners packed
every square inch of the floor,standing two and three abreast in many rows.
The atmosphere was akin to a tin full of very friendly,dancing sardines.
Perhaps it was the copious marijuana smoke wafting through the air.

Smith eschewed dark clothes in favor of a Mobile Mysticks jersey,continuing
his tour long trend of wearing local sports shirts.However,he did wear his
trademark lipstick and eyeliner,which he's said in interviews is necessary
if his pale visage is to be seen beyond the third row.

Despite his wild looks,topped by a mop of spidery black locks,he's no Mick
Jagger on stage.Smith usually stuck close to his microphone,concentrating on
his lyrics.

At first a product of Britain's late '70's punk scene,The Cure has matured 
into one of rock's stylistic leaders.The group has sold more than 23 
million albums on the strength of such hits as Never Enough,Fascination,
Picture of You,Lullaby,Just Like Heaven,Hot Hot Hot and Love Song.

Despite the gloomy tone that prevails in The Cure's catalog,the band
traditionally tosses in light and,at times,downright funny tunes to keep fans
guessing.The loopy appeal of Why Can't I Be You and Friday I'm in Love were
precursors to new songs such as Mint Car the bouncy first single from Wild
Mood Swings.

During Tuesday's concert,which was still going on at deadline,the group 
played both old and new material,changing the tone from happy to mournful
with almost every number.The stage setting further enhanced the "wild mood
swings" theme,with swirling lights,a video screen displaying psychedelic
images,broken roller coaster rails and lasers encased in ice cream cones
that dangled from the ceiling.The elaborate background gave the show the
look and feel of a highly-polished video.

The one problem with the concert was the sound mix;the instruments
overpowered Smith.That's a shame,because he has one of the most versatile
and unique voices in rock.

Notes by Craig Parker

I'm not writing a review for the Mobile show,because there isn't much to say.
It was a very average performance before a very sparse crowd.It was obvious
the band was basically going through the motions(at least until the end of
the set).Instead,I'll list Robert's comments at the show and a few notes on
some songs.

Robert's comments:


"Thank Q and Hello" before Fascination St.

"The next one is going back to The Head on the Door album,it's called Push"

"Going back to Disintegration again" before Lullaby

"Q.Another from Wild Mood Swings.This...is a Lie"

"Yeah,that's a tricky one that,cause sometimes I really feel like singing
it,but I don't seem to have captured anyone's imagination,Blaahhhhhrrrqqqq,
I make much more sense as the evening goes on,I promise" after This is a Lie

"This is from the Kiss Me album I think,it's called Catch"

"Completely different sea,half-way round the world" between Just Like Heaven
and Jupiter Crash

"We're probably going to play everything you think of,so..This is going to
Disintegration again,cause Roger sort of like sends psychic things to me,
it's called Lovesong"

"Thank Q.Going back to Wild Mood Swings again" before Strange Attraction

"Staying with Wild Mood Swings until,we like,run away into other albums"
before Mint Car

"Q.Another single.It seems to be a very cla..cra...caa...crowd pleasing set,
this is from,uhh I don't know,ages ago,it's called Let's go to Bed"

"This is like the greatest hits set,another single" before Friday I'm in 
Love

"Now this is a mood swing" before Treasure

"Ah,another journey back to the Kiss Me album" before Hot Hot Hot

"Feel myself getting drawn up in it,ahhhh.This is called Why Can't I Be You"

"Thank Q.Sorry I mean Thankyou (said in a growl)" before Boys Don't Cry

"Thank you very much,goodnight.See you again.Goodnight.....Thank You"



A few notes:

The show started at 8:30,the main set was over at 10:17 and the show was
over at 11:00.

Raiiiiiiiin is 19 seconds,though it isn't really held.More of an up,down,up
sort of pitch.

Robert changes the words in Edge of the Deep Green Sea to "Today she belongs
right here with me".

Robert got all the words right in Bare and I found it to be very moving
tonight.Maybe it was me.Also,I caught Roger checking his watch during this.

Excellent version of Disintegration.Fast,furious,and intense.

During Close to Me,Robert walks onto speakers by Roger to sing to the crowd,
then goes down the stairs to the barricade separating the crowd from the 
stage area.This causes a mad rush,and he only stays for a minute,shaking
hands before he goes back on stage

During Why Can't I Be You a girl throws a shirt onstage,Robert blows a kiss 
to her.Then during the break in the song we get Witchcraft,Young at Heart,
then Robert says "Let's see,we're in Alabama so we're going to do blues,
aren't we?Go on then".Roger throws his hands up and walks away from the 
keyboards laughing,so Perry starts playing a blues riff,Roger and Jason
pick up on it and start doing a blues jam.Meanwhile Robert sits down on the
stage to watch them.He get's up shaking his head and goes into Lovecats.

Another great version of Killing an Arab.

A Forest is great tonight.Robert,Simon and Perry form a circle in front of
the drums for the middle break jam,then it's the extra lyrics and finishing
with Robert doing the "guitar running out of fuel" and Simon doing the 
classic ending before attacking the bass.

So the 1st part of my Cure tour ends with a whimper instead of a bang,but
after being fortunate enough to see the Houston and New Orleans shows,I 
really can't complain.