Lost, Labyrinth, Fascination Street, High, The End of the World, Anniversary, Jupiter Crash, Pictures of You,
Closedown, Maybe Someday, A Night Like This, (I Don't Know What's Going) On, Push, Inbetween Days,
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, One Hundred Years, The Promise

1st encore: Taking Off, Friday I'm in Love, Just Like Heaven, Boys Don't Cry

2nd encore: Plainsong, Disintegration

3rd encore: Going Nowhere ("just wonderful live")

The show was 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Soundcheck: Labyrinth, Anniversary, High, (I don't know what's going) On, Going Nowhere, Taking Off, Like
Cockatoos

(Thanks to Olivier for the setlist and Andreas for the soundcheck)
 
 

I left cologne with mixed emotions after my 4th cure gig. the location was not the problem, a nice venue at the
rhein border. the band wasn't the problem either. they were in an excellent mood, robert was smiling a lot, perry
and simon seemed to have fun playing as well, only roger seemed to have some problems with his monitoring from
time to time. first thing that was so unusual to me was the cure performing in the sunshine. i was about 5 meters
away from the stage so it was really nice to see the band so close in the daylight but the atmosphere of the songs
and the whole gig did not match with the daylight. the cure need the darkness to perform their music accordingly.
the lightshow is a very important thing to me to surround a gig's atmosphere. second thing that disappointed me
was the setlist. far too mainstream imho. i missed classics like "a forest", "m", "play for today" or "the kiss" to
mention only a few. well after all the setlist went perfect with the cologne audience as the masses went completely
mad with songs like "inbetween days", "just like heaven" or "friday i'm in love". the audience was pretty good,
as well as the sound. highlights of the show for me: "a night like this", "fascination street", "boys don't cry" and
the absolutely amazing "the promise". this new song is brillant, so intense, deep and very heavy. something like
"the kiss 2004". the last song "going nowhere" was fantastic as well. by the way a big f*** you to the
performance limit at 10 p.m. the audience was very pissed off and the band apologized not to be allowed to
continue playing. we were at a fair exhibition centre after all and not in the middle of a residential area. a strange
decision for an open-minded city like cologne.

- Alexandre
 
 

Cologne was great! It was my 30th cure concert and it was one of the best!! The new songs really hit me and the
power in 100 years and the melancholy in pictures of you and closedown surprised me as well! Anniversary is one
of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Rogers piano and Roberts voice fit really well and I heard all the feelings he
had writing that!

The promise was awesome too, a real good ending of the main set! Plainsong and disintegration we’re well
played, but the crowd (about 6000 people) went crazy during boys don’t cry and (what a pity) Friday I’m in love.
Robert tried to apologize before every new song that it’ll be the first time they’re gonna play it and for the end
they played going nowhere and he said that now they played all the new songs at least once live!

- Stef Schmidt
 
 

I'd like to send you a review from the gig in cologne yesterday. I hope, my english is Ok for you, i'm not a native
speaker... *g* Here it is:

It all started with a big disappointment, when the Loreley gig moved to cologne. I looked forward to the special
atmosphere of the Loreley location, watching my favourite band there. And at Loreley there is no curfew, so the
concert hadn’t to stop at 10 pm. But on the other hand, I had to go only 20 min by train to Tanzbrunnen. The
Cranes started at 6 pm and did a good job. It was nice to hear my favourite songs, as Everywhere, Cloudless and
others. It was like during  the Wish Tour 1992 in Düsseldorf…
Round about 8 pm then Robert, Simon, Roger, Perry and Jason entered the stage. It was a little bit strange to see
a Cure concert in broad daylight, and temporarily the sunshine directly hit the stage. I can’t remember another
Cure concert, when it was light. Also the stage was pretty small in comparison to the last concerts I attended, but
this fact gave the event an almost familiar touch.
The Cure were obviously in a very good mood, they grinned, laughed and were enjoying it. They started with Lost
and Labyrinth. I think they had some sound problems at the beginning, because they communicated with the
technicians a few times. The new songs were pretty cool, but I only listened once to five of the new songs before
the concert. So it’s too early to say much about the songs, but most of the new ones I liked at once, when I heard
them. The only exception is TEOTW, it was performed well, but I can’t warm up with it.
The gig had some nice surprises, especially High and Jupiter Crash, which I  heard live for the very first time. A
first highlight for me was the brilliant version of Pictures of You. And not only for me, I think. The audience was
totally with it and during Robert’s guitar parts, there was a huge intermediate applause. All over the gig, the
crowd gave applause to  the band while they were still playing, it was a fantastic atmosphere. At the end, I had to
keep my ears shut between the encores, because the yelling and whistling was so loud you couldn’t stand it. The
audience was great this evening!!

Another highlight was A Night like this. I love it and live it is absolute brilliant. Then they rocked the house with
Push, Inbetween Days and FTEOADGS. Very well performed and with many hands up in the sky. 100 years
came very powerful, especially Simon giving all he had. The last one of the main set was the Promise, new for me,
but a very good song to finish the set. And then the first encore: party party party. After another new one they
drove the crowd crazy with Friday, Just like heaven and even Boys don’t cry. The audience went totally nuts,
singing, dancing, jumping and I think in the first rows, there were lots of pogo dancers, which amused Simon,
when he looked at them.

The second encore was overwhelming: a gorgeous Plainsong followed by a great Disintegration. During
Plainsong Robert made his way from one corner of the stage to the other and looked at the crowd, as if he
couldn’t believe it. I liked it very much, that they played 5 songs from Disintegration, and especially the second
encore was performed as in their best days. At this time it was dark enough, so that the lightshow was more
effective than at the beginning of the concert and was able to strengthen the atmosphere.

The last encore was the wonderful Going nowhere. I enjoyed this song very much and can’t wait until monday,
when I finally can buy the CD and listen to the studio versions of the new songs.

Unfortunately, the apprehensions concerning the curfew were right, and the concert had come to an end at 5 past
10. Robert said: “See you later this year” at the end, and I hope, they play in  germany again this autumn. I will
be there.

- Roman
 
 

My review of the cure show in cologne starts with a few words about The Cranes. It was very nice to see them
again after the wish tour.  The songs were wonderful and the band gave a good start for a great Cure show. In the
past I was glad that The Cure didn´t have a support but The Cranes are definitely an exception. Alison was
wonderful and tenderly in performing the songs. After half of the show Robert, Simon and Jason were coming on
the stage to watch the band standing behind the speakers and Robert and Jason stayed till the end of the show.

The location of the show was quite nice nearly in the middle of cologne. After a short break The Cure came on
stage around 8pm and the sun was still overflowing the stage. The guys were in a good mood from the beginning
till the end of the show and they were laughing a lot. I was curious to see how the band will open the set with the
new songs and how it feels like compared to the other opening songs we know.  Before the concert I really knew
just TEOTW and Before Three very well. Therefore it was very exciting. The entire show was very special not just
because of the songs. As already mentioned all of them had fun, were laughing and talking between the songs. The
crowd was very good as far as I could notice it. It was a feeling that everybody was happy and very excited  to see
the band again after the last festival tour and the trilogy shows and during songs the crowd was giving applause to
the band while the band was still performing, it was awesome!

Robert`s voice was amazing and he is always so intensive and emotional in the songs, yesterday especially in the
new ones like Anniversary (a wonderful song and it is just sad that the song is very short) and Going nowhere (a
song to be loved). Simon was awesome, very powerful the entire concert, especially during 100 years and
FTEOTDGS, it nearly blows me away. It is always nice to see how he is looking to the people in the crowd during
the songs. Perry did a great job yesterday despite a string was tearing from his guitar, the same happened to
Robert. I was very impressed of him. Jason did great drum parts, outstanding was The Promise. I miss Roger a
little bit on the new songs but it could be that I just have listen to them again but he was playing wonderful the new
song Going Nowhere, amazing Roger!!

The entire band was performing so well! It was a great concert with High as a wonderful surprise. Loved
Closedown and A night like this. I look forward to see them very soon. Finally, the new songs they played
yesterday are in the range of good to nearly very good and I´m sure I will get more into the songs if I can listen to
them more often. Wonderful are Anniversary and Going Nowhere!

- Markus Dechant
 
 

Friday June 25, six years after the concert of 1998 when the concert was average, I came to this concert with
a small anguish.

While entering the festival I am shocked enough by the small size of the festival and of the stage..This stage was
assembled of speed after the cancel show of lorely..Cranes made an excellent  show..Things funny, Robert looks
at Cranes show on the with dimensions one of the stage with Jason. Some fans realized of Robert on the back of
the stage.

Lost gives much better on the album as on concert. the song is a little slow.Want gives better into live I think.
Robert is perfect on the level of the voice.
Labyrinth is rather splendid, there is a new enough atmosphere for the cure,surprising.
Traditional fascination street, high without more...
End of the worl is very well restored in live..
Anniversary one is a beautiful song where Robert remains very concentrated on his song.
I wonder whether Jupiter crash landing has well its place in this set? The only survivor of wild mood swings.
Pictures of you is played as in 1989, with the splendid solo Robert guitar, I take pleasure to listen again.
Closedown is a little except subject in this set, but Robert is obviously glad to play it.
Maybe someday makes react Robert on stage which dance with its guitar, very glad to release itself on this title.
Night like this  create  hystery of the first ranks.
"i don't know what's going on" is too new so  I can appreciate it .
Push, in between days, deep green sea make quiver people.
100 years causes at some fans,first rank, very violent pogos, MAD. A hole is made in front of the stage what
causes the joy of Simon.
Promises is rather slow started then finished in a swirl of noise. Robert is transcanding by the song.
Taking Off, Friday I'm in love, Just Like Heaven, Boys Don't Cry causes pogos,songs in crowd.
Right before friday Robert kisses Simon.
Plainsong allows has Robert to take again his breathe, and of saying hello to the fans on the right and left
corner of the stage.
The cure make a beautiful version of disintegration where smith is obviously in the song.
"going nowhere" is short but splendid and beautiful ..i cry on this song, very sad..Robert is with the angels on a
cloud.
The disappointment of the show is the fact that they not played play for today and a forest.. netherless very
good show.
..The new titles need to take their reference mark into live.
excuse me for the translation, my poor english.

- Pascal
 
 

Maybe they were still disappointed about the dramatic football match on thursday, but the five gentlemen did a
great job yesterday. Bravely, the England flag in the background of the small stage, they started with "Lost"
and "Labyrinth" from the new album which will be another musical highlight. Except "The End of the World" I
didn´t hear any other song from it before and I can say that I´m really delighted. My husband was amazed at
"Anniversary" and I was exhausted when "The Promise" was over. It reminded me of the fantastic A Forest/Forever"-performance in Hamburg (November 9th 2002)! So hard, so passionate, so impressive, Robert´s
face distorted by pain...Sorry that I can´t describe the new songs like music journalists do, but I think that it´s not
really possible to do it. And unnecessary too. We stood near by the stage and we really enjoyed to watch our
"some-kind-of-friends" in a quite peaceful and familiar atmosphere. The band seemed to be relaxed and
concentrated as well, except Robert (sometimes ;-) ), who wanted to begin with "Maybe Someday" when Roger
wasn´t ready yet! No problem, they grinned and we had fun. The crowd supported Robert passionately at "Friday
I´m in love", "Just Like Heaven" and exploded at "Boys Don´t Cry". They played the wonderful "Jupiter Crash",
"High" (our wedding song...) and again many of our biggest favourites, for example "From the Edge of the Deep
Green Sea", "Fascination Street" and "Disintegration". Two people kissed each other during "Closedown".
"One hundred years" is such a great song too, they performed it very powerful and I loved Simon´s entry - as cool
as in "Trilogy"! (A pity that I was disturbed by a crazy guy who balanced three buckets of beer.)

Marvellous music, a smiling and infectious Robert, a wonderful band, some broken strings. A perfect event, but -
two hours weren´t enough. The crowd wanted more and I think the band too, but they had to end with the beautiful
"Going Nowhere" at ten o´clock. It´s always over...Robert said good-bye and "see you later in the year". I hope
that they will play Germany again in 2004.

And now...once again: thank you, "The Cure". Never stop this music.

- Jennifer
 
 

Well, this was my first Cure-Concert! I?ve been looking for a good translation for what I think of it, but I guess
"f***ing amazing" or "simply brilliant" fit best!

Right after the soundcheck, about 100 fans were already waiting at the main entrance, when Perry, Roger and
Simon walked along the crowd. It seemed nobody realized it, we were kind of paralyzed, but I at least smiled at
them and Perry smiled back. Hah, I am a winner.

The doors opened and I had a fantastic place in the front row, next to Roger (I could have done the photos,
actually). They started out with Lost (which worked best of the new songs with The end of the world, I can't say
much about the other ones cause I only heard them once?), which is great, and seemed to have a good time on
stage. Roger made some jokes and smiled all the time, Robert did some quite funny grimaces, while Perry and
Simon tried to look serious (with minor success, they where seen smiling several times). Roger even catched a
giant bee and threw it back into the audience, so after all, a very relaxed and happy athmosphere.

The crowd enjoyed the surprises High, Jupiter Crash and Anniversary, but they first really woke up during
Pictures of you, surely one of the highlights with everybody singing along. Closedown showed some sound
problems; I could hardly hear the keyboards (as well as in Inbetween days), which is sad, cause it works well live.
Maybe someday, A night like this, were execellent and the crowd could dance and sing along, the mood was great
(just like the weather was). Even the following songs, From the edge of the deep green sea, One hundred years
and The promise, sounded kind of happy, which was a little bit weird, but the performances were good. I guess it
was during FTEOTDGS when they started to break strings, I guess they destroyed at least five strings that night.

But the encores were even better. After the new Taking off, they did Just like heaven, Friday I'm in love and
Boy's don't cry. The audience went totally nuts, throwing people around (which was annoying) and singing, if
not screaming along (which was rather funny). The band seemed surprised of the applause and even a little bit
overwhelmed and they gave another encore Plainsong was the highlight. A great song, and Robert walked
across the stage, obviously wondering if he shouldn't clap some hands and just staring at the audience. Disintegration rocked, too. But then they only had time for one more song. Tanzbrunnen has a strict curfew and
they at least left us with the feeling that we've heard something really special, a wonderful version of Going
nowhere. Much too early this concert had to end, but it was one of the best things I've ever done. "See you later
this year", Robert said, and I guess he's right.

- Markus