CURE CONCERT NEWS : OCTOBER 12, 1998
 

OCTOBER 10, 1998 - LONDON, ENG - FORUM (MILLER FESTIVAL)
 
 

The Cure played as as the Grand Prize in the Miller Genuine Draft Concert, even got to headline the show. Its actually a nice acomplishment and we should be glad they were asked to do it..It is an indication that they are still thought of as one of the dominant bands of the time. The set was even a bit daring considering most of the people there probably had no idea of 50% of the songs played. Remember this was not a "Cure" crowd, so non singles such as "One Hundred Years,  Disintegration, Trust, and Shiver and Shake" probably had people a little confused.
 

And for the issue of them not letting everyone know...thats the whole point. If you did know you were not going to get in anyway. The nice things about shows like this is they get paid, probably quite a bit. And these handsome paychecks for gigs like this is what end up financing concerts in such major cities as  Eugene, Mobile, Albuquerque, and other places they would normally not go. It helps bring the music to places that normally would not see it, and that is a good thing for the band, record company and  the fans. So it was a win for everyone, and we should all be glad they did it.
 
 

So please just relax, here is the setlist, its pretty much dead on the summer setlist with a few other singles to keep the Metallica, Van Halen, Mariah Carey, Elton John and Puff Daddy fans who were praying that their band would be selected interested in the show.
 
 

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Night Like This
4) One Hundred Years
5) Trust
6) Just Like Heavan
7) Lullaby
8) Close to Me
9) Wrong Number
10) Never Enough
11) Inbetween Days
12) Green Sea
13) Shiver and Shake
14) Disintegration
15) Lovesong
16) Lets go To Bed
17) Why Cant I Be You
18) Friday Im in Love
19) Boys Dont Cry
20) 10:15
21) Killing An Arab
 
 
 

JJULY 18 - ZEEBRUGE, BELGIUM - AXIOM FESTIVAL

1)Shake Dog Shake
2) Torture
3) Fascination Street
4) One Hundred Years
5) Kyoto Song
6) Pictures of You (full version again)
7) Just Like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Wrong Number
10) Inbetween Days
11) From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
12) Never Enough
13) Cut
14) Disintegration
15) Untitled

16) 10:15
17) Killing an Arab

General report was that show was to be expected, mainly a slight change from last years xmas radio festivals shows with Sinking and Kyoto Song back in the set. Nice balanced setlist. Supposedly a very windy day along the sea, loud obnoxious crowd not really there for the show, more to get blasted. The Cure pretty much played in daylight. Upon listening to this show Roberts singing seems pretty decent. "Sinking" is similar to 85, not quite as much guitar work.  "Untitled" sounds very similar to the versions played in the United States in the fall.
 
 

JULY 19 - WIEN, AUSTRIA - FORESTLAND FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) One Hundred Years
4) Kyoto Song
5) Pictures of You
6) Just Like Hevan
7) Sinking
8) Wrong Number
9) Inbetween Days
10) Edge of the Deep Green Sea
11) Prayers for Rain
12) Never Enough
13) Cut
14) Disintegration
15) Untitled

16) Trust
17) Forest

18) Friday
19) Boys Dont Cry
20) 10:15
21) Killing An Arab
 

Much has been written about the bands mood at this show, basically like in 1997 in the usa there experiencing technical difficulties on stage that is becoming more and more frusturating with each passing show. If you witnessed Los Angeles june 97 (the sound was so bad at that gig that the radio station went was broadcasting actually went off the air till it got fixed) and remember that mess, its similar. Guitars not working, keyboards not cutting in and out. Its just a case of playing short tours with a different road crew at each venue. If were lucky, one of these concerts we might finally actually here Perrys part in "Torture" (hes always playing it, just nobody ever hears it). Its not the bands fault at all as there out there to play the best show they can every night.

As for the gig, the energy was good, songs like "Kyoto Song" and "Sinking" are getting great reviews for being back in the set. "Sinking" does not yet have the guitar work that it once had, but it takes a little while to get the feel for that one back.."Untitled" is a fantastic set closer, ending on a lighter more retrospective side, instead of the angry finishes of "Disintegration" or "End" as on past tours. And they are playing the album version of "Disintegration" (played in 95, first 20 of 96 and 97)  this year., NOT the entreat version (played in 89 and after the first 20 gigs in 96). Difference being album version is twice as slow, and there is no solo in the middle, just kind of a guitar wash, and Perry plays over the top of all of Rogers notes instead of that other loop he had going in 1996.
Thanks to Johan, Dom and some of the other for reviews of first few gigs
 

JULY 23 - NIMES , FRANCE - FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Kyoto Song
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Hevan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) Trust
17) Boys Dont Cry
18) Forest

The band sounds pretty off on this gig, Robert kind of talks through this show instead of singing. Its just that the songs are so slow this year, it kind of leads to that. As on many of the shows this year "Fascination Street" is really slow and it takes the bite out of the guitars, the notes are to far apart. The bass line sounds good, but the guitars are a little flat. The only song that seems fast is "Kyoto Song" which is being played faster than last time it was toured in 1989. "Never Enough" is also missing quite a bit of guitar. All in all, all the songs are just a little off.  In a way the Zeebruge show sounded a bit sharper than this one.
 

JULY 24 - COMO, ITALY - FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Kyoto Song
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Hevan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
17) Trust
18) Friday Im In Love
19) Boys Dont Cry
20) 10:15
21) Killing An Arab

JULY 25 - LYON, FRANCE

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Push
4) One Hundred Years
5) Trust
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Hevan
8) Sinking
9) Like Cockatoos
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) Figurehead
17) Treasure
18) Boys Dont Cry
19) 10:15
20) Killing An Arab
 

21) Forest

Well, I have read that this was "the greatest cure show of my life" and I have read "this was the absolute worst Cure show"...So I have no way to say how this one was at all

JULY 26 - ROTHENBURG, GER - FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Trust
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Hevan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) Friday
17) Boys Dont Cry
18) 10:15
19) Killing an Arab

This show will be broadcast on German Television on September 10, 1998!
 

AUGUST 7 - ODEMAR, PORTUGAL - SUNDOEST FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Kyoto Song
6) Pictures of You
7) Just like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

17) Friday I'm in Love
18) Boys Dont Cry
19) Forest
20) 10:15
21) Killing an Arab
 
 

AUGUST 8 - LA CORONA, SPAIN - RIAZOR FESTIVAL

 1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Trust
6) Pictures of You
7) Just like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) Friday I'm in Love
17) Boys Dont Cry
18) Forest

19) Figurehead
20) Faith
21) 10:15
22) Killing An Arab

Friends who went said this was a very good show, the band still played a little slow as they have done on this tour, but a pretty good show. Some say Robert looked a little tired at the two spain gigs, but pulled through it. "Disintegration" is doing just that lately, mutating quite a bit on this tour from night to night. "Figurehead" was evidently good but again same thing with "Faith" that has been tough since 89. When its only played once on a tour, there is not any continuity, it always ends up being really short, the end basically is not there. On the other hand, when they do start playing it a few times a week, such as in a couple stretches in 1996 (Rome, Milan, Lyon, Zaragosa, Berlin, Katowice) it gets really tight and sounds impressive. Conclusion...either put it in the set and work on it or just dont play it. It never sounds good till at least the 3rd time around on a tour.
 

AUGUST 14 - DRESDEN, GER - FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Trust
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Lullaby
10) Wrong Number
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration

16) Friday Im In Love
17) Boys Dont Cry
18) Forest

19) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
20) Figurehead
21) 10:15
22) Killing An Arab
23) Forever
This was a great show as many who wrote said it was fantastic atmosphere. The band seemed to having a great time at this show and were much sharper musically at this show than some of the others. The vocals came together, the sound crew was organized and the band did not really want to leave the stage. "Figurehead" was great, "Sinking " was fantastic.."Forever" was a surprise to everyone including half the band members.
 

AUGUST 15TH - HILDESHEIM, GER - ZILO FESTIVAL

1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Pictures of You
4) One Hundred Years
5) Cold
6) Just Like Heavan
7) Sinking
8) Wrong Number
9) Never Enough
10) Inbetween Days
11) Green Sea
12) Cut
13) Disintegration

14) Untitled

15) Boys Dont Cry
16) 10:15
17) Killing An Arab

This show was not as good as Dresden, as it was shorter, had a few sound and crew glitches, so the band was not as cohesive as Dresden. But it is hard to follow up the two previous shows, some of the better ones that the band has done...According to roving reporters Lorenzo Contucci and Andreas Ott, the "spiders" were out in full force at this show..Lorenzo said more than any other gig this year.. By the way "spiders" is the new title for the all black clad crowd..I didn't make this up, just passing on the term.
 
 
 

AUGUST 21 - SIERE, SWITZERLAND
1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) Treasure
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Wrong Number
10) Never Enough
11) Inbetween Days
12) Green Sea
13) Cut
14) Disintegration
15) Untitled
16) Friday Im In Love
17) Boys Dont Cry
18) 10:15
19) Killing An Arab

Pretty standard gig here for this year.
 

AUGUST 22ND - COLOGNE, GER - BIZARRE FESTiVAL

 1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) One Hundred Years
5) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
6) Pictures of You
7) Just Like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Wrong Number
10) Lullaby
11) Never Enough
12) Inbetween Days
13) Green Sea
14) Cut
15) Disintegration
16) Untitled
17) Friday Im In Love
18) Boys Dont Cry
19) 10:15
20) Killing An Arab

Watched the second half of this gig on the net...sound was pretty dreadful, but its real audio from half way round the world. The band seemed pretty tight musically but Robert was kind of on another planet for this one. Wrong Octave on "Untitled" with the bass, could not remember any of the words, missed many of his cues. "Disintegration" was another where entire verses were missing, and when he did remeber them, he sounded like he was trying to catch up with everyone else. But the rest of the band sounded pretty good on this one, Perry was making excessive amounts of noise, Simon was on as always and Roger sounded good.
 
 

AUGUST 23 - BRNO, CZECH - SUN FESTIVAL
 1) Shake Dog Shake
2) Fascination Street
3) Strange Day
4) Push
5) One Hundred Years
6) Kyoto Song
7) Just Like Heavan
8) Sinking
9) Pictures of You
10) Lullaby
11) Trust
12) Wrong Number
13) Never Enough
14) Inbetween Days
15) Green Sea
16) Cut
17) Disintegration
18) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
19) Like Cockatoo
20) Prayers for Rain
 q  21) Boys Dont Cry
22) 10:15
23) Killing An Arab