October 27th, Papp Laszlo Sports Arena, Budapest Live Report

I know all that chuckrh . but it's kinda sad to acknowledge that Cure has become a band of greatest hits for "casual fans". To be honest, I don't care a s**t about rigs, lights, video or any other paraphernalia. I'll leave that for U2. I just care about their music. Bring me them to a smaller stripped venue. The amps, the instruments, smaller crew and the five of them. That would be something. They wuold make much less money. But they would also spend much less in this monstruous thing they carry on gig after gig.

I know that The Cure, for a very long time now, it's much more than a dark stuff band, they have a lot of brighter pop songs in their vault, so I get they have to play those numbers, wich a lot of them are great, I'm not questioning it. But at the end, the true loyal longtime fans, are always expecting the same: songs from Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Pornography, & The Top, darker or less known songs from TIB, THOTD, KM, Disintegration & Wish albums. And B-sides too. Just look at the live threads here. Whenever they bring to the table some real good less played stuff, there is a wave of excitement, there is no talk in the thread but "Wohoos!!" "Oh my God!" "I'm gonna faint!" "I'm melting, Jeez!!", "I love this band" and so on. When they are into the third pop encore everybody is making jokes and chatting and saying goodbye before WCIBY. Who wants to hear Inbetween Days for the umpteenth time? Only casual fans and Pipperoo . Wrong Number? Just you and wilgy . It should be the pop stuff the one that rotates, not the dark stuff, IMHO.

But at the end, I guess the main reason for these kind of sets must be RS himself. it has nothing to do with money. He just don't want to be The Cure that dark anymore. He enjoys the pop repertoire. So I know I'm looking for Ithaca.

After Vienna's show & having seen & heard the clips where Robert was struggling with his voice, I fully expected a more “mellow” selection of songs last night. A situation that bode well for a Bloodflowers set.
But it’s The Cure isn’t it? Boom! Straight in with Shake Dog Shake & I thought, hey, is he pushing his luck here? He can’t possibly do Give Me It without losing his voice completely.
A thought that was further compounded by the inclusion of Want with the opening howl just as in-your-face as you’d expect.
Robert was careful throughout the show. He held back on straining himself & masterfully modified melodies to be able to cope with what was to come.
Yeah, so they flubbed ANLT at first, but after they restarted it, the show was exactly what the doctor ordered.
The Seventeen Seconds encore gave Bob a bit of respite after a truly face melting Give Me It that really ought to have warnings posted at the arena gates. I tried to scope it, as words can’t really do it justice, but the mic sensitivity on my phone was set wrong & the sound was more like an explosion in a dustbin factory. 
Burn shook the building as Jason & Simon teamed up to create a thunderous tribal rhythm & at one point it appeared Robert & Simon were having a conversation during the instrumental passage.
Along came the third encore &, as expected, it was to be the pop thread.
But that’s not going to surprise anyone is it?
Nowhere in the small print of the “Real Fan Of The Cure” (whatever that means  ) description does it say “You must pledge to not like Friday I’m In Love, The Lovecats or Close To Me.” Just as it doesn’t read “You must pledge not to like anything with a slightly dark feel to it.”
Fact is, & yes, if you want to lay down on your fainting couches, please do, The Cure will play those hits at every show. If you’re a “Real Fan Of The Cure” you will have to accept that & even embrace it as they transport you to every apex of the emotional spectrum. I have to stress that this is in no way a slur on any fan. You’re a fan or you’re not. We have our go-to eras, we have our go-to songs. Let’s face it, if we didn’t it’d be a sad state of affairs wouldn’t it? I see it as having a go-to band & one that continues to endure & draw a crowd of all ages every time they play. 
If I was in a band & saw the reaction in the venue to those songs, you can bet your erse I am going to keep them in.
Overall, the show had something for everyone. The radio-play audience. The more discerning old school audience & everyone inbetween. 37 years in under 3 hours is always going to be a tough call. The Cure make it look & sound extremely easy.

Going to hugely thank wilgy , paulwUK & sang who kept the updates flowing last night. If I missed anyone, sorry. It’s difficult to tell when you’re there who’s doing what
Thanks also to everyone who joined the thread for the night. I was air guitaring in spirit with everyone & did feel like you were all there with me ....with the roadies holding my air beer

Finally, to anyone in The Cure who might be reading these threads. Yes, there’s an element that would dearly like a dive back to yesteryear & the less accessible material in your repertoire (me included). Who knows, maybe in the future you’ll go down that rabbit hole, but whatever direction you do decide to go in, you can be sure your fans will lap it up, debate it & come see it. To have fans that emotionally invested is a rare thing. Thankyou Robert, Simon, Roger, Reeves & Jason.
You are all truly awesome! #FACT

Here is a sample of what Google translate "Thinks" it is.


Nearly three-hour concert. Who wears away the man so much? A number of popular and / or important rapporteur for the entire life's work is not so much, but after many years of concert touring, I concluded that the ideal can not be longer than 45 minutes concert. Or if they do, then its a very good reason should be. Let's say for a Paul McCartney is also an insult to take if our eyes to spot the three quarters of an hour, but to endure this pace is the Cure?


haha what?

Sorry Steve, the report was mistake ("who push the red button?!?!"). I am the man with blue jeans and black hoodie with white square (my logo) on my back.