From the Miami New Times:

Copyright 2004 Miami New Times, LLC  
Miami New Times (Florida)

August 5, 2004 Thursday
SECTION: Music/Featured Stories

Just Like Heaven
The Cure kicked off its Curiosa tour with a mixed bag of delights

By Hunter Stephenson

Robert Smith shuffled to the distant left of the stage at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre, pulling at a cuff on his long-sleeved black shirt and widening his egg-white eyes at the well-mannered West Palm Beach audience. For virgins to the Cure's live spectacle, the 44-year-old Smith's perfected miming of euphoric delirium was part tall tale from a haunted mansion innkeeper and part Michael Jackson parable on celebrity idiosyncrasy that wistfully filled their glass to its brim with iconic expectation.
This was the surreal rock moment that had lured many in attendance, the one that stood out in the hopes of out-of-towners during their less romantic, beaming afternoon journey past automobile accidents and walls of perma-deconstruction alongside I-95 to the amphitheatre. Yes, a sweating, black-clad, feminine ogre dabbed up heavily in white face paint could not offer such a drink of refreshing escapism without an indisputably classic array of urban tropic hits like "Mint Car" and "Close to Me." Such was the touted reasoning for this Saturday evening, July 24, the first date on a month-long tour billed as a rosary-like celebration entitled the Curiosa Festival.
But what should have been a more balanced orchestration of hip musical homage by the first two opening acts felt more like inspired rehearsal sessions. In a doleful concert season that has left a once-mighty Lollapalooza Festival in the state of a flattened brass instrument, the scattered audience (which grew to capacity as the evening wore on) at a pyrotechnics-barren stage for the brief, dronish, supernal set by Scottish outfit Mogwai and the lauded dance-club stabbings of New York's the Rapture was prematurely disconcerting, doing little to support a recent expose in Entertainment Weekly magazine on the vanishing chasm of popularity between a upwardly mobile indie rock scene and Zeta bro rock.
Ironically the Cure would soon prove otherwise, although the Curiosa tour's second-stage rejects, which ranged from the horse-riding, Heart-gone-metal petulance of Auf der Mar to the arbitrary trail mix of rock bands Head Automatica, Cooper Temple Clause, and Thursday, offered some unwelcome hints.
Out of the three opening acts on the main stage, the Rapture, who appeared decidedly underdressed in jeans and tees, are closest to the Cure in its Eighties heyday. Grooving into a fully blossomed day trip of jams such as "Sister Savior" and "Killing," singer Luke Jenner launched his thousand-yard valentine stare on the grassy knoll behind the seating area, and drummer Vito Roccoforte slammed his cymbals like rain puddles, grinning with a satisfaction worthy of David Grohl. Currently overshadowed by less charismatic flukes such as the Killers and Secret Machines, the Rapture consistently ripped with a presumably innocent fatalism that drew impressed applause from its onlookers.
But that was nothing in hindsight to the reception for the monolithically daunting "real deal" performance by Interpol. Carefully cut out from a pristine copy of Flaunt magazine and accessorized with cigarettes and Rorschach-inflicting strobe lights, the dapper boys unleashed their lasciviously monotonous sound. As testament, frontman Paul Banks could not even begin the confessional interlude to set opener "Obstacle 1" before a Spanish knockout in leather stilettos stood awe-frozen in the audience like a mannequin sacrifice to bassist Carlos D.
The one-two punch of depth-charged emotional pop and haute professionalism exerted by these up-and-coming bands was an ideal aperitif (sans an appearance by the Stills) to toast the Cure's ruby-smeared legacy, if not its present artistic agenda. That version -- currently on display through the Cure's latest, self-titled album, with its awkward fire-and-brimstone delivery and testosterone injections -- is better suited for Ozzfest. The band's new songs, such as the utterly cliche political misfire "Us or Them" (which was set to a looped clip of pissed-off, symbolic ants on the video screen above them), and the jarring guitar solo epic "The Promise" (played against an image of light tunnels spinning counterclockwise), were third-degree killjoys that exorcized the near capacity crowd's energy before a Hail Mary encore of "Close to Me," "The Lovecats," "Why Can't I Be You," and "Boys Don't Cry" pummeled requests into submission.
By the end of the Cure's hour-and-a-half set, one could argue that time has been kind to Robert Smith. His vocals hit every melancholy note of "Pictures of You," and the 'do and mind that birthed Tim Burton were notably intact and electric.

From the Miami Herald:

The Cure commands stage at Curiosa Festival

BY MICHAEL HAMERSLY

Trekking around the spacious Sound Advice Amphitheatre fairgrounds at Saturday's Curiosa festival, one got the distinct impression that rock
'n' roll isn't dead just yet.

There were those intent on showing off their fashion sense, from lethally spiked Mohawks to French-maid-and-fishnets to full nun's garb.

But most were there strictly for the music, and the impressive lineup headed by The Cure didn't disappoint.

Auf der Maur, essentially ex-Hole and Smashing Pumpkins member Melissa Auf der Maur, proved she no longer needs Courtney Love or Billy Corgan.

Interpol's driving, chiming guitar riffs juxtaposed with droning yet choppy vocals energized the near-capacity crowd as twilight loomed.

Immediately afterward, even before the amplifiers had a chance to cool down, the charismatic band Thursday let loose an energetic, raucous set
on a side stage that had the throngs jostling for a glimpse. At one point, Thursday's dynamic lead singer said he was nervous performing
right before one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, but judging from the hundreds of pumping fists, he had nothing to worry about.

Strong as the supporting cast was, the night belonged to The Cure. Shrieks erupted from the crowd around 9:15 when iconic lead singer
Robert Smith and his hair -- that Liz Taylor frightwig -- casually walked onstage and picked up his guitar.

The band ripped into the single Lost from its new untitled album, with Smith's distinctive howl lamenting ''I can't find myself,'' while the stage lights brightened the nights like a fireworks show.

For the next six or seven songs, however, despite a serviceable version of Fascination Street, the screen flashing behind the band was as interesting as the music. Arresting images ranged from dizzyingly psychedelic colors to close-ups of ants aggressively chewing something to eerie white crosses in a cemetery.

The crowd was politely swaying, clearly waiting for The Cure to dispense with the less familiar songs and get on with the mega-hits.

And the payoff happened in a flurry, as the band sent everyone into a frenzy with the opening bassline to Lovesong. Smith -- despite mixing up
a line or two -- really seemed to mean it when he sang ``I will always love you.''

A string of Cure classics followed, kicking off with Smith strumming an acoustic guitar for In Between Days and the crowd singing along to
perhaps the band's signature song, Just Like Heaven.

The angst-filled anthem Pictures of You might best sum up what sets The Cure apart from other groups, besides stellar songwriting -- a sense of
romance. Behind the gloom-and-doom lyrics, Smith is forever searching for something, and it feels like love.

And so it didn't matter that at times the guitars were weak or obscured: All anyone cared about was The Voice. Smith's powerful, high-pitched
howl that erupts from the bottom of his soul can mesmerize a crowd on its own.

On this night, The Voice didn't want to quit. The Cure came back quickly for an encore, playing up to the very minute the venue's curfew kicked in.

At the end -- after a four-song whirlwind through Close To Me, The Lovecats, Why Can't I Be You and Boys Don't Cry -- Smith thanked the
whooping crowd and said he'd be back.

So will we.

So I just woke up after returning from two stunning days of Curiosa in Florida. Wow. Definitely the best two shows (out of 10) that I've seen. Dream Tour was close..but a bit more of a religious experience than a concert one. Like two children, I would never be able to choose between these shows and the Dream ones.

WPB:
Rapture: Hehehehehe. Yay. Much more fun live than on the CD. I'm not a huge fan of their music, but they definitely have a place in our collection...and they're so exhuberant and boppy that I can't help to dance during their set (go cowbell go!).

We met the tall singer after the show (he was just hanging out near the pit..) and got to talk to him briefly. Nice guy...we tried to sell him on Cooper Temple Clause (whom he had not actually heard yet).

Interpol: These guys were an absolute f___ing surprise for us. We were *not* impressed with them at Inland Invasion and decided (from their performance there) not to get the CD. However, this time was different. 30 seconds into the first song we were hooked. By the end of their performance, we were in love.  I'm not sure if we were too far back (lawn) at Inland Invasion to hear them well, their live playing style changed, or our tastes (radically) changed since then but we ran out as soon as possible this time to buy get the CD and listened to it all the way from WPB to Tampa. Can't wait to hear them at the other shows. We didnt get the setlist (despite trying), but someone was kind enough to let us get a picture of it (we'll post it later).

The Cure: We were up front in the pit for both gigs, but West Palm's was really a pleasure due to its small size. Spiggy/Paivi and I were in the first few "rows" of people - she could have touched the railing. There were only a couple of hundred people down there and the room and space to relax and dance were a **huge** change for us from the last few gigs we've been to (HFS, Coachella, Inland Invasion, Route of Kings, etc.).  The most notable thing about the set was it's intensity. The emotion and strength of the songs are what I love about the Cure and I wasn't disappointed. I like to feel like I'm in the ocean on a stormy day (EOTDGS is obviously one of my favorite songs) and this is what a lot of the set felt like. Wave after wave after wave of the Cure's sonic onslaught - no one else matched (on either day) this kind of power in their sets.

I honestly didn't mind the pop set. Every time I hear a new uncommon song, I have to sit there and be appropriately awed by it. It's nice to take a break once in awhile and just dance to things you've heard a million times before...

Images that I keep seeing in my head even now:
*Robert spitting into the mic he was singing so intensely.
*The silly sweetness of Robert's dancing during the encores
*Roger looking morose until Robert went over and teased him (or something). We have a picture of that smile...
*CATCHING THE SETLIST WHEN THE ROADIE THREW IT OUT! :) Yes, Spiggy/Paivi put it in our car's back window. :)

Quick comments about some of the new songs:

Lost, Plainsong: We were debating which song would be the opener. Everyone won :) What a way to build emotion quickly.

Labyrinth: Really great to hear live. The whole album feels better in person, and this was a good example of it - looser and more aggressive than the CD.

alt.end: Wow. This song has been growing and growing and growing on me. It was amazing live - I couldn't believe how much I loved it. It had far more depth in this show than I realized it could have.

Us or Them: Mixed feelings.  More melody on the CD, more intensity live.

The Promise: Eeep! Wow. Every time I hear it at a show, it blows me away. I've started to realize that I wait for it in the set.

We waited around back for the guys after the show (and met up with someone we first spoke with on the Dream Tour in New Orleans)...but the police got pretty obnoxious and pretty much forced us to leave....

Overall, Curiosa had a superb "Festival" feeling that a lot of large corporate sponsored events do not. (HFStival????)...WPB was relaxed and a pleasure to attend. I'm so looking forward to the other dates we had planned to hit (NY/NJ/MD) that I think we're adding a Cali. date to the list...

-Jack/jofny
(btw, we enjoyed all the second stage acts we heard but missed on Saturday the one we really wanted to hear - Cooper Temple Clause).

Our journey to West Palm Beach started a bit later than planned on saturday morning. We drove from Daytona Beach after seeing family (people
would consider us nuts for doing this for the Cure alone, so we were trying to add a legitimate reason since we did fly all the way from DC area). We is Jack (jofny), my husband and me.

We had done our homework and bought cds from Thursday, Rapture and Auf Der maur after hearing about Curiosa lineup. We had heard the team cooper and muse play in Coachella earlier  this year  so those were already a part of our cd collection. We test listened Head Automatica in the record store but that never hit home. Mogwai: saw them in London with the Cure (route of kings) and they are not my cup of tea. We had also seen Interpol in Inland Invasion in California last year and dismissed them into the 'so what' category. yes i know muse was not part of FL lineup but theyll be
there later in the tour.

On arriving to the festival we could hear Cooper temple Clause's last song and they were actually the only second stage act I wanted to hear. Oh
well, better luck in Tampa I thought. So, after spending a fortune in the merchandise table: 3 shirts, a bag and temporary tattoos(!), it was time
to head to the pit. And what a pit it was.... i have never been so happy about spending some extra for the ticket (got mine from ebay btw). The pit
was extra small, everyone should have had a perfect view. Turns out I was standing right next to Nadine and her friend (noticed from the picture
taken with robert). Nice color hair btw :).

Okie, Rapture. I was not convinced after hearing the cd (Echoes i believe) the first time but i was a fan after the fifth time. They are really
refreshing change to all the guitars that usually dominate bands in these kinds of festivals (call them alternative if you will). And the guy with
the cow bell: it is completely beyond me how he manages to move like that and keep the bell going right on the dot. I could not get my eyes off of
him. Very fascinating. And in my opinion these guys are even better live. I chatted with the lead singer after the cures set and he was very nice.

So, after a break on comes Interpol. The basist had been watching Rapture their entire gig from the side but since I did not know what these guys
looked like, I had no idea at the time. 30 seconds into the song we look at each other like: holy fscking motherofgod! WE NEED THIS CD! This has to be the most impressive band introduction that i have ever experienced and that is including the cure. I do not know what has happened between inland invasion and west palm, but something definitely has. I loved Interpol, these guys have easily the chance of becoming my second favorite band. As we all know, the first spot is already taken.

Then the cure. A show without pushing and shoving. I could not believe (especially since HFStival is still very fresh in my mind) how NICE it was
just to dance, sing along and enjoy it 100% without being afraid for ones life or keeping ones bone structure in tact. i have my complaints about
the setlist but nonetheless, the sound was great, the guys were in an excellent mood (well, maybe not roger) and audience seemed to be very
responsive. Of course, the poppy setlist might have contributed to that. During close to me, robert asked roger to dance (if i read his lips right), but roger smiled and shook his head for 'no'. Well, at least he did smile :)

Now, if we could only rethink about dropping fascination street and 100 years and including figurehead, anniversary (dammit), anything from the
bsides collection or even faith, id be a happy camper. Not that i am unhappy now.. but it would make me more happy.

Jack (thank god for tall husbands!) caught the setlist when the roadie threw it out in a ball. Turns out we missed an encore because of the time
restraints. Second encore would have included M, Play for Today and Forest. I wish they had skipped BDC for any of those. Of course 90% of the
audience would have disagreed with me on that.

All in all, a very good show, very complete and even without quiet spots. Looks like everyone had bought the latest album since the lyrics were
pretty well known. At least in the pit.

We also bumped into a person (whos name i still did not get :) we met in New Orleans dream tour gigs. this was after the show while we were waiting
for the guys to come out from the backstage area. i know it was a futile wait but leaving right after the gig into all that traffic seemed a bit
hopeless too. eventually the cops drove us out. Anyhow, it always helps to know we are not the only nutjobs who spend fortunes following the cure :)

And jack did go out and got Interpol's album before the cure started, so guess what will be playing in the car when we drive to Tampa.. with
saturdays setlist in our back window? :)

- spiggy

Your reviewers pretty much captured what the show was like...but left out just one thing: The Best band of all on the night was Auf der Maur .
What a set they played! What great music! After 20 years of following the Cure on both sides of the "Pond", I never thought I'd say that I
enjoyed a band more than the Cure on the same gig. But I did.
 
I hope that they are on the main stage by Baltimore- my next Curiosa show.That will be a livelier crowd than the  WPB "swayers" if Dreamtour
2000 was anything to go by. And MAdM will liven it up very well....for Robert and the boys to let loose.
 
Melissa AdM should be on the main stage.
 
Wish List : Robert: any chance of adding a Montreal show for MAdM ? Please play the "17 seconds" encores you did in Tampa, when you get to
Baltimore . Any chance of "All I want" being added to the setlist ?

- Ray ( in Ohio via Liverpool U.K.)

I have been going to Cure shows since 1992 and I have to say, I really enjoyed the show last night.   The sound was so much better than the
Inland Invasion show (the last time I saw them).  I go to the show to enjoy the music--regardless of what they play.  People need to get over
the whole "pop nightmare" thing.  I honestly think it is pathetic to go on and on about how they played lots of pop songs--so what!   Sometimes it is
nice to go to a Cure show and feel the energy of the crowd (because they know the songs) than to go to a Cure show and be the ONLY one who knows
all the songs (Inland Invasion).  Sorry--just my take.

The new songs sounded excellent live.  My favorite new song live was Us or Them.  Of the old songs plainsong was awesome!  I really liked the
lighting-simple but effective.  The merchandise was so much better than the dream tour.  This time around they have girl fitting shirts from size
S-XL (a real XL and not a pre-teen XL!).

- Laura Marie Boykin

I won't write a full review of the WPB show (largely because I don't think there's much to say that isn't obvious- it was technically very well-played but
offered very little for the hardcore fan. But it was maybe an appropriate set list for the crowd in WPB and hopefully they'll play more diverse sets elsewhere. One major disappointment is that the backing visuals are a MAJOR downgrade of the simple and elegant backdrops on the Dream tour.
 
A few observations...
Robert did watch all the main stage acts from behind a black curtain stage right. I stayed in the pit the whole time so I don't know how or if he watched second stage. Most of the time no one seemed to notice him except when a few people were rudely yelling out to him during Mogwai's set.
 
Speaking of Mogwai, I'm not sure that this type of thing is the best way for Robert to promote his favourite band. They are SO much more powerful in a club than in an open-air amphitheater where their dense full LOUD sound gets diluted.
 
The 17 Seconds encore was on the set list as a first encore (what they played was listed as a second encore), which makes no sense since there obviously wouldn't be time for it. Would it have been so hard to have the first band start at 4:30 and get the Cure on at 8:45? I know a lot of people are pissed off about Curiosa, but I respect what Robert is trying to pull off. He clearly has genuine love for several of these bands. However, with such short "safe" sets, he's going to end up alienating many of the band's most ardent fans.  
 
Some people have suggested here that the Cure are a nostalgia band. I'm starting to agree, I'm feeling pretty nostalgic for the Dream tour.
 
As I re-read this, I feel like it's a little too harsh. Once I accepted it for what it was (pop singles, the new album, and the "usual" three epics),
it was a good show. I'm looking forward to tonight.

- Aaron Perry

I have a different take on last night's WPB show.
 
I have been a fan for over 20 years.  I waited 23 years for last night.  I was not in the least diappointed by a single thing.  I realise though
that all the setlist gripers have seen The Cure live many, many times.  But for me, regardless of the flaws, it was a deeply moving and long
awaited experience.
 
Even my best friend, who is a long-time fan, admits to having a spoiled, cynical view of the show.  But for me, I can't find sufficient words for
how I felt, and still feel.  For me, the only flaw was not being able to think of some way to meet them.
 
So maybe this isn't a real review, but I wanted to give another, perhaps less jaded view, of the show last night.  the whole band was really into
it, and they seemed to be really enjoying themselves, even during the heavier songs.  Their pleasure in being onstage made all the better for me.
 
Give me a few more live showes, though, and I suppose I'll be carping along with everyone else :)
 
- Raven

The sound mix was horrible... could not hear the guitars hardly at all. 1hr 45mins is not long enough for a Cure concert!!! I was spoiled rotten
by all the wonderful Bloodflowers shows. Way to many people sitting for most of the show - everyone seems more interested in their cell phones
than participating in a concert. Oh to have been in the pit! It looked like a Cure concert down there!
 
Robert sounded great though, and the pop songs didn't bother me at all, kind of nice after being out of the setlist for so long. Just remember,
a "nightmare" Cure show is still an amazing happening. After four years it was great to see the band!  See you in Tampa!
 
- Morris

Definitely have to agree Nadine that it was a Pop Nightmare!!! I'm curious as to why they are starting at 9:15 and knowing that most people are showing up just to see them and also know that there's a 11p.m. curfew. I'm thinking as the tour goes on that they'll modify their setlist and go from there?!?!? I was disappointed to not hear "going nowhere" or the other non US releases, but what can you do???

Here's a quick review:

Lost-Very powerful and great live
Plainsong-just hearing it again live, life is beautiful!!!
Labyrinth- another one great live
Fascination Street- Perry's guitar was not loud enough.
Before 3-Live version is very very good.
FTEOTDGS-Excellent, but guitars were not loud enough.
Alt.end-not bad live.
TEOTW-(popnightmarebegins) still not a fan of this song.reminds me of Friday, I'm in love.
Lovesong-okay
Inbetween days-good to hear, but another single.
Just like heaven-see prior 2 songs.
Pictures-long version and this was an exception.Excellent!!
Us or them-excellent live version and Robert's voice was great!!
Disintegration-very good version
100 Years-very very very powerful to hear it again live!!!
The Promise-better live than original version.

Encores
Close to Me-nice but here's the Pop nightmare again.
The Lovecats-surprised to hear this one but then again under the time restrictions left.
Why can't I be you-also another surprise, but pop.
Boys don't cry-nice and quick version, again pop stuff.

All in all a decent show, but looking back at the setlist, they cranked out 20 songs in an hour and half. So they were handcuffed by time restrictions and had to play shorter songs to accommodate???!!??

Is there a petition to request "The Cure" to do a regular tour after this one??? if so please advise.

- Gene Yee