The Curiosa Festival 2004

Aug. 17th, 2004 - Englewood, Co. (Coors Amphitheatre)

Plainsong, Labyrinth, Fascination Street, The End Of The World, (I Don't Know What's Going) On, Lovesong, In Between Days, Just Like Heaven,
Jupiter Crash, Pictures Of You, Before Three, From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea, alt.end, A Strange Day, One Hundred Years, Disintegration
 
Encore 1:  Close To Me, Love Cats, Why Can't I Be You
Encore 2:  Lets Go To Bed, Friday I'm In Love, Boy's Don't Cry
Encore 3:  Going Nowhere
 
(Thanks to Decay for the setlist)



Reviews


From Boulder News:

Denver performance shows the Cure is lightening up a little

By Matt Sebastian, Camera Music Writer

August 18, 2004

ENGLEWOOD - For all the doom and gloom in the air Tuesday night at Coors Amphitheatre, the Cure's traveling carnival of misery came off as more of a gushing lovefest than some kind of gothapalooza.

Consider the inaugural Curiosa Festival - with its handpicked lineup of Cure disciples, including Interpol, the Rapture and Cursive - the glowing self-coronation of Robert Smith, the band's frumpy sourpuss of a leader.

That's not to say Tuesday night's celebration - a black celebration, judging by the mostly thirtysomething crowd's attire - wasn't warranted. As Curiosa's lineup attests, the Cure, and specifically its iconoclastic figurehead, is one of the most influential, if unheralded, musical forces of the past 20 years.

Most of the acts preceding the Cure paid their respects to Smith and Co., both overtly and through their music: Fending off threatening skies and a persistent early-evening drizzle, Kasher and the Rapture's Luke Jenner each showed off their best Smith-like yelps, while Mogwai, a powerful Scottish combo, echoed the snaky guitar epics of mid-period Cure.

When it came time for the main attraction, Smith milked it for all it was worth: As the band performed the gorgeously placid "Plainsong," Smith kept to the side of the stage, finally wandering out in front of the crowd, acting, however disingenuously, like a shy schoolboy in the face of the audience's rapturous reception.

Sadly, for all the celebratory airs, the Cure's set felt perfunctory.

After a first half-hour that featured nothing but cuts from 1989's Disintegration and the band's new, self-titled disc, Smith seemingly went on autopilot, leading the band through a string of rote, passionless crowd-pleasers ("Just Like Heaven," "Inbetween Days," "Close to Me," "Let's Go to Bed," "Friday I'm in Love" and a particularly limp "Why Can't I Be You?").

The Cure's long been known for digging deep into its 25-year back catalog; Denver, which was several thousand fans shy of a sell-out, appears to have gotten stuck with the tired greatest-hits set.

There were a few bright - or, this being the Cure, wonderfully dark - spots: Smith's guitar freak-out in "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea," the one-two punch of Pornography's "A Strange Day" and "One Hundred Years," a giddy airing of "Love Cats," even a rare reading of "Going Nowhere," an outtake from The Cure.

It's easy to smear Smith as a gloommeister, and the Cure's pop-heavy set Tuesday proved that's not a fair allegation. Yet the band's dark, cinematic work almost always surpasses its more radio-friendly fare, much of which is riddled with horribly dated synth parts.

Perhaps the next time the Cure's in town, Smith won't be in such a celebratory mood.

(Thanks Tempest)


From Rocky Mountain News:

Cure mixes greatest hits, new work with wonder, power

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News
August 18, 2004

Yes, the concert industry is in one of the worst slumps ever, but come on - this one should have been a no-brainer.

You've got The Cure coming off of its strongest album in years headlining the Curiosa Festival with a handful of the hottest buzz bands around, including Interpol, Cursive, Auf Der Maur and The Rapture.

This is a tour that would have and should have sold out big venues even just a couple of years back, but the concert malaise this year is such
that if Coors Amphitheatre was even half full Tuesday night, I'd be surprised.

And it's too bad for the people who chose to not fill those seats or even snap up the $20 lawn tickets. Besides getting a sampler of new music from different bands, they missed what was likely the best Cure show this town has seen since the epic Disintegration tour of '89, when the band played the same venue.

Surely it was far better than the last time several years ago, when Robert Smith and company took the stage in mystique-killing daylight; the sweat and the makeup was running by the third song as the heat sucked the energy from the band.

Not so this time around. When The Cure took the stage just after 8:30 Tuesday night, its light show was full-on, the music filled with wonder and power, and a set list to please even the most critical fan.

Songs from the new album, also called The Cure, fit seamlessly with the classic Cure catalog, and Smith knew what the crowd was there for. Much
of the main set was filled out with song after song from 1989's Disintegration album. It's a testament that Smith is still on top of his game that the new single, The End of the World, fit in so well with classics such as the taut guitar interplay of Fascination Street, Pictures of You, Lovesong and more.

In fact, the main set was awfully close to a greatest-hits revue, sprinkled with songs from the new disc, including a compelling version of (I Don't Know What's Going) On.

It's still an exceedingly young crowd the Cure draws, even if some of the songs that drew the biggest cheers - In Between Days, Just Like Heaven - are many, many years old. It felt like an '80s revival in some ways, with a greater concentration of Joy Division T-shirts and pink-dyed hair than anywhere else on earth.

Surprisingly, it was the younger bands having trouble keeping up with the older guys. Despite some great studio albums, Interpol gave a surprisingly flat, redundant performance. Omaha's Cursive, on the other hand, showed much more range and dynamics than its studio work would lead one to believe.

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.

(Thanks Tempest)


I saw the cure for the first time in Englewood.  I started listening to them with Disintegration but had never had the chance to see them live. I drove 700+ miles to see the show and was not disappointed in any way.  The entire day was perfect.  All of the acts were great and I got to meet Simon and Jason while checking out Auf Der Maur on the second stage.  A dream come true.
 
I loved that they played One Hundred Years and everything that they played from Disintegration.  I would have liked to hear more off of Pornography, but was pleased with the full show.  No complaints at all.  Perfection.  I can not wait for my next Cure show.
 
- Phil


We flew from D.C. to be at this Denver Colorado show. the reason we went to Colorado was to be with FUJI & THROWINGSHAPES fuji came all the way from Australia! We have always wanted to be front row at a cure show together so I made it happened when I heard he was going to be in
Denver. Fuji and I have waited 4 years to have that night together thank god for the internet I've met so many awesome people that share the same
love for the band.

We got the gates very early we met up with (the pancake house cure fans) we all happened to be eating at the same place before we all headed to
the gates. All of us were NOT FROM DENVER CO, 2 of us came from dc, 2 came from new mexico, 2 came from Idaho, and of course fuji from oz. so there is my shout out to these great fans!

We had awesome views of the band of course font of the pit. I have to admit the Denver crowd was very DEAD and BORING. I kept looking back
thinking wtf? Mogwai was awesome this was my 3rd time watching them live. I love the way they break into a beautiful melody I listen to mogwai when I paint so I kept thinking about art when they played. I did score the taped set list for mogwai!

The rapture I know lots of cure fans don't care for them but I like them. what I like is they aren't like all the other young bands they are different and creative plus they make me move. I like the funky keyboards. The singer was wondering around the pit he also came down to shake hands in the crowd. I also got a drumstick from the stage guy but I gave it to the girl next to me because she was a huge fan of rapture. (the good karma came back to me later)

Interpol love them they freaking ROCK! I think I was playing air guitar? I really enjoyed the set. I also got lucky again got a drum stick from
another stage dude. I kept that one J I love Interpol simple as that.

Before the cure set stage I started to feel sick and needed water bad! Thank god they had those water boys floating around or I think I would of passed out. No I didn't have cotton mouth I was high on life for this show. I saw roger at the back door yelled out ROGER and waved not sure if he saw me. then the band came out started the lovely intro to plainsong. Robert was slowing making his way out soaking up all the energy from our cheers as he made his way from the right side of the stage slowly looking at all of us. I started to blow robert kisses after my second kiss I noticed he was right in front of me he opened his eyes WIDE started me right in the eyes and said THANK YOU. hard to explain how awesome it felt to have that moment with him. fuji grabbed me so hard to confirm YES that DID just happen. I pretty much just melted after that. SIMON and perry played right in front of me I gave simon the peace finger (I never use the peace sign but for some reason I felt like giving it to simon) LOL simon looked up and gave me a whats up grin as he played that was AWESOME. Perry never looked my way but I did shout out a few times perry ROCKS. I waved to roger as he looked over our way roger played "going nowhere" so perfectly it was fantastic.

Cure setlist I have to admit I was hoping for more darker cure songs I really wanted to hear FAITH, LOST OR A FOREST LIVE. I would of lost if
for THE KISS. But what can ya do? they did play all the pop songs that originally drew me INTO THE CURE years ago. I'm staring to think robert
is doing this to draw a new fan base? Think about it most of these pop songs are what got many of us into them in the first place! Then we discover the other side of the cure and that's all we want. Yeah so I wanted darker cure but I still enjoyed all the songs they played and I got into all of them. I mean here is my favorite band in the world playing live what more can I ask for? I just wanted to point out I understand what many of you are feeling. I didn't let any of it disappoint me or piss me off. The highlight songs for me where Jupiter crash, going nowhere, strange day, edgs. I have to admit I'm really getting into the new album more than ever after this show. I guess after hearing the new songs live it changes makes the songs even better.  I'm totally in love with anniversary, lost, the promise, truth in goodness and beauty, going nowhere, labyrinth.

I forgot to add that the bodyguard in front me of gave me his personal (cure) set list at the end of the night ! another gift I got to take home

Thanks to all the cool cure fans I met (shout out to gary from Maryland cant wait to party sat night) and thanks to the band again for the show. I'll catch you again front row.  Xoxox

- lorelei@sirenscure.com


Just Got home to Boston from the Denver show and wanted to say a few things.

1. I hate drunk obnoxious people at Concerts... I am glad they are enjoying themselves but not at others expense. 

2. I didn't get to hear alot (well almost any) of the songs I had hoped to hear...yeah it was a pop setlist...but they are a band and they need to play to everyone not just me or all  the COF readers or the total Goth Freaks or the real "diehard" fans or whom ever ...they need to play for everyone. So to all the swooning girls (and Boys) who got to hear lovecats and Close to me and wciby and lets go to bed and Friday...well be happy and to everyone (including myself) who didn't get to hear the Kiss or Faith or Figurehead or forever...well Get over it. It only stands to reason that they have such a large and diverse selection of music to draw from we will not always hear all the stuff we want. I was bummed and really disappointed, I kept thinking Ok now they'll play some "GOOD" stuff. But then I started to smile and think to myself...I am doing the truly most amazing thing in my life, again. I am watching an awesome bunch of musicians who ALWAYS make me happy, even if they aren't playing my personal favorites. (although Disintegration still leaves me breathless...) So Lighten up everyone, enjoy them and be happy they are playing pop stuff, all the kids will buy their albums and they will be around alot longer than if it was just "us" buying their new stuff. and finally

3. IMHO the new album ROCKS live. It is sort of a promo tour for the album so obviously they are going to play lots of it, again , get over it and enjoy it

Thanks for letting me vent.

ps Spoke with a friend who works lights and was told the Euro dates are still rumors and that it seems like they would have started planning them by now so that the crew could plan as well...??

- Creighton


I went to the Englewood show last night. I think it was awesome, and you can't please everyone. I think that anyone who goes and flips the band the bird should be thrown out on their sorry faces and never allowed to come back to another concert. Obviously, they arent fans.  Let the ones who really want to be down front be there.  That is so lame.  Seriously, if you dont want to be there, dont GO.

- Lindsey Hampton


Well,  what can I say?  The Cure chooses Denver to play "Let's Go to Bed" for the first time this tour.  Then they play "Friday I'm in Love" for the second time this tour.  Wow, I'm so happy they chose those songs over "M" or "Charlotte Sometimes".
 
Or how about the fact they played a half-ass versions of "Close to Me" and "Why Can't I be You"?  Gee, I'm sure happy I got to hear those two
songs instead of "Faith" or "A Forest" or "Shake Dog Shake".
 
Bottom Line:  good tight main set except the now-annoying "I don't know what's going on".  I wish they had played any other song from the new CD.
 
Encores:  Horrible for the most part.  They seemed (the songs and band) lazy for the climax of the show.  Going Nowhere, good song but a bad way
to leave the stage.  Especially after the "...it will kill you" line by Robert( I expected something really big here!).
 
Yes, I was the guy flipping them off when the played "Let's go to Bed".    Roger made a steady eye contact with me for quite a few seconds during "Friday I'm in Love" as I stood there with my arms crossed in disgust,  I could just imagine the look on my face!  He seemed shocked to see that!
 
The Cure are always a great band live.  I just thought that six straight pop songs for the encore was very disappointing and lazy.  I like these
songs (Let's GoTo Bed got old 15 years ago for me though) but it was a let down not to hear songs that were played at other shows this tour.
 
At least the screaming drunk sorority type girls behind me enjoyed the encores.  They screamed along with all the words!
 
I'm hoping they come back and do an evening with... show.  If not I hope they consider what type of music the die-hards want to hear,  just as much as they take in mind what the feelin'-good-outdoor-summer-concert-going-drunks want to hear.  Because next time whether it's short or long it needs to be a little more intense!
 
- Adam


Last night's concert was one of the best I've ever seen.  This was my 5th Cure show & I have to say, probably 3rd only to the Disintegration & Wish tours.  The band seemed excited to be on stage as opposed to the Dream Tour 4 years ago. 

After reading all the reviews on this site in regard to the new album & the current tour, it seems The Cure are unable to please a lot of their fan base because the fans are completely incapable of enjoying themselves.  Decay's comment about the "pop wonderland" is more agreeable to me than the "pop nightmare" so many other people are bitching about.

Frankly, The Cure's still one of the best bands around & I, personally am thrilled they're still making music & touring.

Kudos to the band for an excellent show in Englewood last night.  I hope to see you again soon & will try to balance the negativity some of your ungrateful fans seems to heap upon you.

- VertigoProducked


All in all the Denver show was a huge disappointment. Plainsong was of course a great opener.  Robert stood to the side and didn't shake anybody's hand in the front row but made eye contact and smiled at a few people.  Unfortunately Plainsong turned out to be one of the few highlights of the show.  Pictures of You was great as was the string of FTEOTDGS to Disintegration.  Unfortunately this 30 minute stretch didn't make up for the rest of the show which was just wave after wave after wave of 3 minute pop singles. The problem with these songs is that they really cheapen the musical and lyrical talent of the Cure. It makes them seem like a nostalga band.  It's frustrating to watch and hear because we know that they are so much more than that.  Although Robert seems to be enjoying himself I can't believe that the rest of the band has any fun playing these simple tunes.  Any Cure cover band can play these songs with their eyes closed.  After the first encore I thought for sure they were going to come out and play Faith or
something more substantial.  Instead Robert says something like 'along the same lines..." and they play Let's Go To Bed so the pop nightmare continued.  Of the 10 Cure shows that I have been to this was by far the worst.

The crowd didn't seem like they were into any of the songs from the new album.  I know that 'The Cure' is not getting much airplay in this area and that might be part of the problem but none of the songs seemed to work very well live in my opinion.

As far as the rest of Curiosa goes I liked Mogwai and Interpol but it didn't really feel like a 'festival' at all.  It just seemed like a bunch of bands that
nobody really cared about warming up for the Cure. The energy level in the crowd was non-existent for all bands except for maybe Interpol and of course the Cure.  All of the sets also seemed rushed.  A couple of times I noticed band members looking at their watches.  There was very little banter between songs because it felt like every band had to hurry up to get their songs in before their time was up.  I am definitely not a fan of the festival format and hope that the Cure will return on their own soon to do a real show.

- Steve


My husband and I went to the Englewood show last night, and I just read the review written by Decay.  It turns out that we were sitting very close (same row and section) as him, which I thought was pretty cool (although I don't know him).  I did notice some mistakes, though, from the quotes in his review. After the second encore was when Robert said "Thank you.  We'll see you again very soon......maybe in 30 seconds."  At that point they came back on to play "Going Nowhere."  I'm pretty sure it was after this that he said "Thank you, you've made this a fucking great day.  Good night."  I knew from reading reviews on your website that he had said that at other shows, and I remember getting anxious toward the end of the show that he wouldn't say it.  I mean, I wanted to think that the audience here had been great for the band.

Another thing to point out is that the band started playing at 8:40pm, not 10:40pm.  I was very happy that they played for almost two hours.  I have been spoiled from those 3 hour shows for so many years, and I was worried with the festival that the Cure's stage time would be cut really short.  However, the schedule for all of the other bands was kept to very rigidly (which I was thankful for) and like Decay said, they were actually on the stage 5 minutes early. 

I had a really great time at the show.  The setlist had too much pop in it for my taste, but A Strange Day, Disintegration, One Hundred Years, and a few other songs really made up for it.  Besides, quite a bit of the crowd enjoyed the "pop wonderland" as Decay put it.  I was bummed that they didn't play Lost and The Promise.  Robert really seemed to like the crowd and it looked like Roger was really having a great time. 

I really wish I could afford to see them more than just this one time during the tour.

- Crystal Havey


Just got back from the Englewood show.  It was amazing.  The band seemed to be enjoying themselves and the crowd.  I was ten seated rows back in
the center section slightly right of center.  The Cure took the stage about 10:40 (five minutes earlier than schedule).  I won't give a play by play of the setlist, but will point out a few things.  The highlights for me were One Hundred Years, Disintegration, and FTEOTDGS (crowd participation for this song was great - a girl in front of me turned to face me and we sang most of the song to each other - really great feeling).  Now about the encores - some people would probably use the term "pop nightmare" (I won't mention any names...nothing but love here), but for me it was great to hear these songs and dance dance dance.  They played Let's Go To Bed for the first time on this tour.  Nice to hear it again.  The crowd responded very enthusiastically to the "pop" encore - I'll call it a "pop wonderland" (damn I'm getting goofier by the minute).  After the end of the second encore Robert said "Thank you, you've made this a fucking great day.  Good night."  Then he walked off stage and was caught off guard by someone on the side.  I looked at my watch and saw there was five minutes left before curfew (10:30).  The band quickly came back on stage and Robert said "This is a song we rarely play...and it will kill you."  I thought for sure that he was going to play Killing An Arab (I know, I should have known better). 
They proceeded to play what seemed to me a quick rendition of Going Nowhere.  It was beautiful and a nice end to a great night.  Before Robert left he said "Thank you.  We'll see you soon."  The show ended about 10:32 or so and I left feeling totally drained.  I don't know how I ever survived those three-hour shows.  Let's hope that I get to see if I can still survive them in the near future.
 
- Decay
 


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