The guy coming out of the bathroom in black lipstick;the parade of 
Vampirellas too early for Halloween.These were good signs that you were at
the right place-The Cure's concert at the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford
Sunday night.
  Signs that this was a show well into the band's career included the
diverse ages of the fans and the number of parent and teen combos.Also,the
poor turnout-a half-filled pavilion,and no seats sold for the lawn at all
for a band that once filled U.S. stadiums.
  Blame it on the fickle marketplace.For on the stage,dark as Dorian
Gray, the music was timeless and sharp from the british band led by Robert
Smith.
  On the penultimate stop on the band's eight-week U.S. tour that started in
Worcester,the current lineup seemed to be just hitting its stride.Rather
than winding down,the band was adding new things to the show,from old tracks
such as "Catch" to quite possibly the first performance of "The 13th," the
Latin-flavored number on the band's current "Wild Mood Swings" album.
  With a freewheeling set of more than 30 songs, there was still a lot of
room for "Fascination Street," "Love Song," "In Between Days," and "Close to
Me." Smith,usually reluctant to chat,began introducing numbers,perhaps not
so much for the crowd's sake as for the band's.
  By the encore, he was making the band guess, as when he broke down a
version of "Why Can't I Be You?" into "Moon River," "Young At Heart,"and his
own "Love Cats."
  Smith, at 37, is nowhere near acting his age.  He's still the impetuous
boy with the petulant heart,whose wails seem strong as ever.A cloud of gloom
still appears over his head, or maybe it's all the fog machines.
  His hair is still moussed into a masterful mess,but there's less makeup.
He wears oversized sneakers and huge hockey jerseys to appear cartoonish.In
Hartford,he wore the Whalers colors,which have been known to create a gloom
all its own.
  Still a bit shy after all these years, Smith hid behind guitars most of
the evening,contributing a few leads here and there,but seldom adding to the
texture admirably handled by guitarist Perry Bamonte and,especially,keyboard-
ist Roger O'Donnel,who had to reproduce all synthesizer sounds as well as
strings and horns.
  But when Smith came out from behind the instrument, he teased the crowd
from the lip of the stage.Though the crowd was modest in size, it was re-
sponsive, standing from the first and rushing the stage at the second song.
  Again,The Cure created its alternately atmosphereic and booming sounds on
a set that was visually striking and brilliantly lit.The motif this time,
accompanying their "Wild Mood Swings" album title,was the twisted remains of
an amusement park track gone awry.Along with the midway colors,pinwheels of
lights twirled and cones of light extended and contracted.
  It was a wonderful, sometimes heartsick, little world for The Cure to
inhabit.

In attempt to cap off a perfect summer, I decided to pull in just one
more Cure show this year,  (thanks go out to my kind hosts Dana and the
invisible Laura) in Hartford Connecticut.  But more than anything it was
to see how different a Cure gig would be on the East Coast ( My previous
experiences being West Coast and Central shows)

First off after the amazing hospitality of Ken Lee and Ryan Saullo & his
amazing circle of friends (sans Katie, the pot smoking Deadhead), the
East Coast (New England) took a little getting used to. I really can't
blame my host Dana, there were major life events going on at the time of
my arrival which would leave just about anyone disoriented.

I can blame her roommate Laura though, who upon finding out about my
arrival proceeded to leave her apartment and spend the next 3 nights at
her parents house (Lighten up Laura!!!). This was typical of the lack of
hospitality demonstrated by the fair citizens of Manchester CT.

I did manage, after 3 days to strike up a conversation with a young lady
named Nicole in Wickham Park, only to find out that she was from
Alabama, thus explaining her friendliness.  She too agreed that the
nature of these people was downright stoic but somehow a theory was
developed that it is either because Connecticut is the richest state in
the union and they are paranoid that someone will steal their money or
that it is the influx of people moving in from New York and bringing
their attitude with them.

Enough of all that, Show Day!!  Anyone having been to more than one show
knows that there's sort of a ritual that you go through each night. 
First, you scope out the scalpers and see if they have any better
tickets than you, I failed to do this in LA and swore that if I ever had
another chance I'd take it, which I did.

And it really was worth it because sitting behind me were Carrie,Tom & Heidi
who form the Boston band FADE (coming to a town near you,check them out) If 
I can remember correctly they had 10 shows under their belts and
still had two more to go (& maybe Conan O'Brien right Carrie?) After
trading info about bad encounters with Roger (that seems to be going
around) as well as an unbelievable fact that I'll speak of later, we
also made arrangements to trade boots.  It was then time to spec out my
second seat of the evening.Closer but obstructed...mmmm,it had possibilities.
..

Well finally about 8:25 the lights came down and the chimes started,
that's right chimes, time melted away, we were back in '89 and there was
Plainsong in all its glory. The lights were identical to the Prayer Tour,
I just stood there smiling knowing that tonight would be different.  I
made my way up to my obstructed view row and thanks to the kindness of a
fellow fan I was allowed to view unobstructed for a few moments.  

Then it happened, during WANT the kiddies rushed the stage.  Being a good
lemming, I decided to do the same thing and, amazingly I got right in
front of Robert!!! Almost an identical spot as in New Orleans but not
right against the barricades which was still perfect since that left me a bit
of room to dance.

By Club America something was different.  The projection for the back
screen was out, thus again lending to the differentness of the gig.  The
band were seriously having fun.  Robert smiled a lot, giving knowing
looks into the audience.  Simon was simon, still the punk glaring down
at the audience jumping around the stage, making those aggressive bass
movements (especially during Trap) Roger's hair is growing out, finally,
so he's looking more like he did during disintegration. Thankfully, he
looks a lot better. Perry too had big/bigger hair, eyeliner,and the ever
present two sizes too small T-shirt. 

Perry it seems has taking the rock god mantle and wears it well.  More
gifts were given to perry that night than Robert, and to watch him have
conversations with the little girls in the audience was kind of cool,
for so many shows he was too cold,now it seems that wall was breaking down.

Tonight I didn't write the entire set list down, hoping that someone else
would but I did write the highlights..The first deviation was after
Lullaby came High, which sounded just as good as Houston, if not better.
 During Mint Car, Roger kept coming next to Robert with his little
tambourine until Robert finally blew the solo and just began crushing 
strings and mumbling lyrics.

Speaking of Roger, there was a point were Simon seemed to be trying to
catch Rogers eye. And once he got it he turned his back and ignored Roger,
making Roger wonder what it was he wanted...ahh the games that go on
in a band. There was a lot of talking between themselves, again they
were having fun. 

The next set change was A Strange Day. Maybe it was because of my
closeness, but the lights didn't have the same effect as when I've seen
them before. But the sound sure did, it was great.

Then the drums kicked in, those old Lol Tolhurst beats and out of nowhere
was Figurehead!!! Heaven! Heaven! Heaven! After the song, someone in the
audience yelled "You can't top that!!" and the next song, off of WMS did
sound pale in comparison.

Later came Like Cockatoos, which blew me away.  I remember in 87 sitting
in New Orleans UNO Arena watching Boris play this and thinking "Wow,
what a cool drum sound" Jason to his credit has reworked it, made it his
own and is equally as powerful.

Side Note: Is it just me or does anyone else get the inside joke of
showing fish on the screen during Catch?

Then it happened, 100 Years, as I watched Simon jump around during this
song I had to wonder, as many times as he's played it, does his mind
ever go back to the old days as he's playing... The lights were the
usual 100 Years Black and White, at one point incredibly white (Just
Gary doing his job...)Watching the solo come out was incredible. The
next song tripped and stumbled after the power of that one, but midway
through, they were back on track.

Then it came to the point I wait for every night, where Bare turns into 
Disintegration. But as I'm waiting for the sound of breaking glass, they
walk off....mmmm Well now....

By the time they make it back to the stage, I'm feeling sick, (don't
worry, it's happened every night on tour, all the excitement, you know).
I stay for the song worth hearing again, The 13th. Now it's Robert's turn
to stand by Roger and make him mess up. Cute I tell you, Cute...

Then came Hot, Hot, Hot. At that point I decided to bail for a bathroom.
Being so close to the barricade, I decide to ask one of the security
guys to pull me over, they refuse.  Mmmm, what's a guy to do now? Push
his way through the crowd? Stand there and be sick? 

No, I take the only logical approach, I crowd surf.  What a feeling...I
just let my body go and stayed up there for what seemed like an eternity.  

I can only imagine what Perry's thinking, "Oh crap, he's followed us from
New Orleans!!!"

So needless to say I spend most of WCIBY in the bathroom throwing up to
just plain get it over with.  When I finally did make it back in, Robert
was sitting on stage right singing to Perry's little girls. It was too cool.

I wanted to get closer, so I asked a very built guy in a CBGB shirt to lift
me so that I could surf my way closer. He insisted that I was too far
back and that they wouldn't hold me,and proceeded to do the next best thing,
he pushed me (I never would have thought of that) people just parted....

Finally, time for the second encore. A Forest starts it.....that
weird..... Suddenly in one fluid motion, Robert, Simon and Perry walk
all in step from one side of the stage to the other and begin screwing
with Roger's keyboard to make up for Mint Car.

Finally A Forest disintegrates into Forever... I crowd surf one more
time, screaming the lyrics...Its a trip to see all the lights and Perry
upside down...

After a firm speaking to by Security in the pit, not to mention a choke
hold, I make my way "rather aggressively" I must say, back into the
audience for one more view of Rob and the Boys.

What a tour its been and what a summer.  As I look at them you have to
wonder if they'll come back. Poor Attendance..... Low album sales....Craig 
Hogan...(sorry couldn't help it..still friends Craig?) Is it time to
re-invent themselves? Who knows, the public is so fickle.

But on my end there are so many people who made this tour possible &
memorable.
 If I could offer any advice, it is that: if you get a chance to cross
the country and listen to some great music and meet some amazing/and not
so amazing people, DO IT!! I've grown so much as a person for doing this.
And too, if you have the chance to offer your couch to someone who is
doing the above, take it.  The experiences they can tell you about as
well as the things that you can share with them are what make lifelong
friendships.

Thanks to everyone I've met this summer, Lament, Quadzilla, Sean P.,
Dennis, The Montana Chicks, Mario in Vegas, Ed from New Mexico & his
crew, The couple that I listened to the sound check with in Houston, The
guy from Thibodeaux, Dana, Jane, Laura(?). But most of all to Ken Lee,Ryan
Saullo,Scott Maynard (for reasons I can't explain here),and the most
understanding woman in the world, Katie Campisi.

On the flight home to Louisiana, I watched complete strangers start
conversations on the plane.  I smiled, leaned back and realized that
this was home........

after the two other shows i saw on this tour (worcester,ma and great woods) i
decided to let other people send in their reviews and not send in another of
my own.however,after last nights show in hartford i felt i had to at least
try to write something about it.it was by far the best of the three shows i
have seen.i did not write down the setlist,though someone next to me did
(hello if you are on the list) so hopefully someone else will post that.

before going to the show i hadn't checked my e-mail for at least two days,and
as it turns out i'm quite glad that i didn't,as if i had i wouldn't have been
as wonderfully surprised as i was to hear the chimes from plainsong.right
from that moment i knew that this was going to be an incredible night.

i'm still too much in awe to comment on the show song by song,and i can't
remember the setlist in order anyway.i will say that unlike great woods,where
it seemed to take me 5 songs to really get into the show,this one was intense
from the start.though the third row seats i was told i had turned out to be
sixth,i felt like it made up for it when i heard the chimes of "plainsong"
and then when robert was walking around the stage before he started to sing
and i swear he looked right at me (i know i sound like a silly teenager,but i
was on the aisle and the lights were very bright,anyway i thought he did)

then when everybody finally was allowed to rush the stage my girlfriend and i
moved from sixth row on the aisle (in front of roger) up to second row
directly in front of robert,where we stayed for the entire show and even had
room to dance!i must say over all that the fans here,though just as much if
not more into the show than the fans at great woods,were much more 
composed(?) i can't think of the right word.there was no stage climbing
mania at this show,the barricade in front saw to that,as did the security.
was there a barrier at great woods?i was in the 27th row so i couldn't see.

the songs were all amazing.i couldn't believe the setlist i was getting to
hear.the guy next to me (who wrote down the setlist - hello again) kept yell-
ing for "one hundred years" and i said to my girlfriend "that would be nice,
but they won't play it" and i was so nicely surprised when they did.we were
both glad for the guy who was yelling for it,he was so into it.it seemed that
every song that i heard someone yell for was played,except for "the drowning
man" (sigh, oh well, we can't get everything we want i guess) even "the 13th"
was played,in a very funny version with robert telling everyone he needed to
teach roger the horn melody at the end,or something to that effect.if anyone
on the list could understand both what robert was saying between songs,or the
improvised lyrics in different songs, please please post them.

the two major highlights for me (as far as songs...) were first when they
played "lovesong" (as i finally got to hear it with my girlfriend, who didn't
go to great woods with me) and then when they played "the figurehead" and i
started to cry.  i wish i could have understood the verse robert added to the
song.  there were other highlights as well.  "plainsong" (which i already
mentioned, along with "the 13th" and "one hundred years")  and also hearing
"like cockatoos," "catch," and "hot hot hot!!!" (with the correct lyrics this
time, yay robert!) live again was wonderful.and for someone who thought they
would never see the cure do "forever" to get to hear it twice was incredible.

there weren't many annoying fans at all.  just the few who kept smoking pot
near me (i hate the stench of it, but i'm not starting a drugs are good/drugs
are bad argument here) and the person with the cigar.also,the person holding
up the sign which said "MORRISSEY is a FAG" annoyed me.i know the band, as
well as many of you, don't like him, which is fine, but that sign was stupid.
did they honestly think that it was funny to call him a fag?as if it's some-
thing bad...ugh.well,enough preaching...other than that the fans were mostly
great.i think the amazing respose (both in cheering and in sheer energy/emo-
tion) was what prompted things like the impromptu (or so it seemed) "the 13th"
and there was just a wonderful energy coming from the band themselves.both in
tense at times and playful at others.two good examples were when robert was
playing the solo in "mint car" and roger was looking over his shoulder giving
him a hard time seeing if he would screw up,and then later during "the 13th"
robert stood right next to roger and looked over his shoulder giving him a 
hard time and all of us near the stage saw (though i couldn't see what robert
said to him...) roger say "fuck you" and laugh as robert walked back to the
mic.
then in the last encore roger came out alone and started playing "a forest"
and when robert,simon,and perry came out they all walked over to the keyboard
and robert started messing up what roger was playing.then perry started 
playing the intro more like it sounds on _seventeen seconds_,and simon 
started playing with roger's keyboard as well.then they left him alone and
started the song properly.they played what to me was a great version of the
song, adding bits in right from the start,and then proceeded right into an
incredible version of "forever" (again,if anyone mande out the lyrics please
post them as i only understood small bits here and there...) the song kept
building and building to a point where it seemed even more intense than the
version at great woods...and then it was over.everyone walked off and robert
came and told us (as usual) "thank you,you've been a fucking excellent
audience.i'll see you again." and he walked away.but then he turned around
and it looked like he was going to say something else,but instead he threw
something into the crowd.

i realized while it was in the air that it was his pick and i tried to grab
for it,but it seemed to slip past everyone's hand,including mine.so everyone
waited for the lights to come on so they could look for it.we were all look-
ing on the floor,and one by one people assumed someone else found it and gave
up.then people in front of us were coming back for their jackets, but one of
them was stolen i think.my girlfriend and i helped them look for a bit and i
turned around to glance one more time for the pick-AND I SAW IT!!! i instant
ly grabbed for it,and thought "oh shit" as my finger brushed it away 
accidentaly.but luckily no one around me realized what i was doing and i
managed to grab it!!!!!i turned around to show my girlfriend and she didn't
realize at first what i was doing.of course when she did she yelled,and
everyone near us turned to look.i'm sorry if any of you who were offering to
buy it from me are on the list (my girlfriend said it looked like one girl
was ready to kill me for it...) but think about it,if you had gotten it,would
you sell it?i didn't think so.

in all it was an incredible show,the best i have ever seen.i'm sorry if i am
leaving a lot out,but it is hard to put it all into words.i still haven't
come down from the whole experience.to all of you who were there i'm glad you
got to see such an incredible show.and if any of you meet robert tell him i
said thanks for the pick ;)  and for three absolutely amazing shows...
(i know, i know, it's a bit corny...but i don't care)

still very much in awe and waiting for a setlist,

arrived in NYC at about 6:30am after an 11 hour bus ride without food and 
sleep,finally got to my sisters at around 7:30 and slept 'till 11 (the most
sleep i got all weekend!) and then it was phoning and planning to get to
hartford that night.got to the stadium thing in hartford around 5:30,where
we met up with everyone else and waited around for the soundcheck.they 
drove in and started doing plainsong,however a few of us hadn't eaten so we
set off for an adventure to McDonalds.mcd's was an experience,we ended up
somewhere in the wrong part of town where no-one spoke english and any kind
of meat anyone got was grey (chicken, beef, whatever, it was ALL grey!) ack
we got back to the stadium and the soundcheck was over,but we found out they
had done,among other songs,other voices,perfect girl,and jumping someone
else's train.some of us didn't have tix yet,so we had to run all around
checking lists and blah blah,we finally got some and headed in.my seat
was with cindi and pakrat,and though i didn't initially think so,they 
ended up being wonderful seats.it was about 25-30 rows back,right in the
middle.people had told me about plainsong in VA the night before,so we 
were all holding out breath,and when the lights went out,there were these
5 little lights on the stage that stayed lit,and they were purple-blue,so
i screamed out "plainsong" and immediately the chimes started playing and i
fell back in my seat for a bit.robert fucked up the 2nd line of the song,
but besides that it was one of the most wonderful cure experiences ever.  
the night continued on,with another lovely version of catch and lovesong.
when jason started the drums for figurehead,i don't think anyone realized 
what it was,but when the bass came in we all just looked at each other with
wide eyes.when he later started the drums for 100 years,i think i was the  
only one near who recognized it,and i started freaking,as did everyone else
when the guitar came in.both sounded excellent,as did strange day.the 
13th for the 1st encore was unexpected and sounded much better than i would 
ever have expected.finishing off with forever,we all left very quiet and   
in awe, as this show ranked up there with everyone's favourites ever, 
including people who have seen them 50 times.i can't say enough about how
good the sound was at this show,mostly because of where i was sitting,but
also the stadium itself had an excellent system.we drove back to NYC 
quietly and awaitied two more shows which would hopefully be ever better.