My third big show in the span 10 days. It would take one of my favorite bands to get me out among people. Fortunately my seats were on the side of the stage in the shadowy balcony of Amelie Arena that remained untouched by house lights for the evening. I felt like Bat-Man looking down over the stage . The Twilight Sad had just taken the stage when we got to our seats. The Scottish dream pop band, opened for the Cure the last time I saw them in 2016. I was familiar with their material and impressed by their energetic performance. Their singer, croons without the indifference most common in the genre. He can put some guts into his voice and belt it out with some anger at times. When they left the stage, rain sounds were played over the PA which I felt was a nice touch.
This marks the sixth time I have seen the Cure. More than likely it will be the last. Not that they did not give a fine performance, in fact Smith's voice sounding much better than videos I saw at the start of the tour. I just want to remember them without any further decline. Of the six times I have seen them, this show had the oddest energy of any I have been to. The venue only seated three thousand more than sheds I have typically seen these guys in. It felt like there was a little more clock punching going on from Smith despite, his pipes sounding better than they did in 2016. The best energy came from the band when they deviated from the hits, making me think, that perhaps he should just retire them. "Love Song" was played at a brisker pace which breathed a little more life in it, but it was the only song from "Disintegration" he gave a shit about playing. I get it songs like "At Night", "Push" and "Play For Today" felt more inspired, they have other albums with better songs. I was glad 'Wild Mood Swings' was not forgotten and not jazzed that nothing was play from "Pornography" , but I have heard him play most of those songs before.
Smith had the same band with him that played in 2016. Reeves has become more of an integral part , and was allowed one shredding solo. Jason Cooper was the unsung hero of the night as his drumming was on point all night. Roger who is close to an original member, was having sound issues. He stepped away from his keyboards and waited for them to be fixed which might have factored in to the shortest set of the tour so far. Perhaps burn out is setting in . At 64 Smith might find the experience less rewarding than he did ten years ago, but they have a new album they are putting out one day, and bills to pay. The new stuff worked pretty well, at times lyrically it might not have been the best, but blended with the classics. We left during "Friday I am in Love" as I do not like the Cure's happy pop songs which seem like fast forward classics in comparison to their best material. Overall even Smith dialing it in is better than what most bands can do at their most inspired.
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