The Cure Unveil Songs of a Lost World in an Unforgettable Troxy Performance
After a background stormy rainfall soundscape, the Cure take the stage. Celebrating what is already one of the albums of the year (at time of writing it is #1 on Apple’s iTunes Store in no less than 31 countries!), SONGS OF A LOST WORLD, this is a one-off gig at the Troxy near London’s Tower Bridge. The room is packed, full of both old and new fans, of all ages, with the usual heavily-makeup’d goths standing side by side with people in floral dresses, jeans and trainers. Sold out in only 3 seconds, the tickets were only available to those who received a code after pre-ordering the newest Cure material to be released in 16 years and I was stunned when I managed to get 2, we’re one of the lucky 3000 tonight! And the fans have not been left disappointed with the long-awaited 14th album. New songs ALONE and A FRAGILE THING have already been released online and on radio, a couple of others have been played on previous tour dates and if the postie has been on time many would have received their physical album copies before they headed to London, but this is the chance to listen to the whole album on its release day, live.
Robert Smith turns his back on the audience, and raises his arms wide and level in a messianic pose, pausing while the band begin the album opener, ALONE before turning to the crowd; who go wild. The current lineup of long-serving bassist Simon Gallup – with his usual low strung 4-string bass set off with a furry leopardskin jacket! – Reeves Gabrels (a previous David Bowie collaborator) on guitar, Jason Cooper on drums and Roger O’Donnell on keys (a very welcome sight as he looks healthy and happy after being diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma last year) are joined by Perry Bamonte, one-time Cure roadie and band member and now rejoining to provide live support with additional keys and guitar. Simon plays most of the opening song kneeling down facing the drums, looking like his guitar strap either broke or came off his bass and ever the consummate professional he doesn’t let that stop him and keeps on playing, with Reeves occasionally trying to loop it back over his shoulder for him
Robert’s voice sounds exactly the same as it has for the last 4 decades, capturing perfectly all the mood and emotion of the new album, dealing with mortality, loss, grief and love and very directly personal for Robert, most poignantly with I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE which was written about his brother who passed away. The bass is often raw and fuzzy, Jason’s drumming is as big as his backcombed hair and the keys and Robert’s guitar soar around Reeves’ guitar which has a more ‘rock’ sound to it than previous Cure guitarists. Other songs such as DRONE:NODRONE have a more lighter feel, especially when you’ve previously heard Robert explain that he wrote this song after being annoyed whilst out in his back garden wearing only his pants, and a drone was flown overhead! Now that’s an image that’ll never be erased!!
After the 8 song epic album playthrough, complete with the 6 minute plus instrumental intro for final track ENDSONG, there’s a brief intermission where the band leave the stage, and we’re left to recover whilst listening again to the rolling thunderstorm loop, which Robert later in the evening asks the sound desk to not use that during the next gap as “it’s a bit Hammer Horror, play some sunshine!”
The 2nd part of the show is all the hits and vintage songs that has the crowd enthusiastically singing along to every word and the band are looking like they are having a great time on stage, Robert even getting his wooden recorder out for the intro to BURN (one of my personal favourite Cure songs). He seems to glance up at the balcony during JUST LIKE HEAVEN and LOVESONG, later it was established that his wife Mary was sat there watching her husband’s performance, what a lovely moment!
We’re then treated to five songs off 1980’s album SEVENTEEN SECONDS, including SECRETS which hasn’t been played live since 2011! What a treat! Then a final flurry encore of pure Cure pop culminating in the always fantastic BOYS DON’T CRY which finishes off the 31 song set. There’s an uncharacteristic fluff up by Robert during FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE which causes some big smiles on stage from Roger and a sheepish grin back from Robert; great to see the bond and interaction between the band!
As we all pile out into the chilly London air after 3 hours, everyone is on a high. One of the best Cure gigs I’ve been to, playing what I feel is the best album they’ve done since the epic DISINTEGRATION, I can’t wait to get back home the next day and get hold my copies of SONGS OF A LOST WORLD, which typical for me I’d preordered in every single available format! I’ll be watching the gig back tomorrow as well as it was also livestreamed. It’ll be a while before my giddiness wanes, and this amazing album has also provided me with the inspiration for my first Cure tattoo! – two lines of lyrics from ALONE. Here’s hoping now for a tour announcement!!!
Full set list –
Plainsong
Pictures Of You
High
Lovesong
Burn
Fascination Street
A Night Like This
Push
Inbetween Days
Just Like Heaven
From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea
Disintegration
At Night
M
Secrets
Play For Today
A Forest
Lullaby
The Walk
Friday I’m In Love
Close To Me
Why Can’t I Be You
Boys Don’t Cry
The Cure Unveil Songs of a Lost World in an Unforgettable Troxy Performance @ Rock News RockNewsUS
