April 22, 2000: Wembley Arena, London, England
Info:
Line up:
Robert Smith- guitar, vocals
Simon Gallup- bass
Perry Bamonte- guitar
Jason Cooper- drums
Roger O'Donnell- keyboards
Reviews:
POSTED TO DESCENT:
i was at the wembley show last night. it was my 59th show
spanning 18 years of cure concert going and that gig is
definitely in the top three of all cure gigs that i have seen.
the set list was like a wet dream, playing songs i hadn't seen
them play for a while and the band playing them in a style i
never thought i would see again. some of the older songs
especially were played with a raw energy and passion that left
me speechless but feeling exhilarated. the kiss and sinking
were incredible, the penulimate encore of m, play for today,
just like heaven (have they ever played it better?) and a forest
reminded me of how truly great a live band the cure are.
throughout the set the band were smiling and laughing and i
am sure i saw robert wipe some sort of moisture out of his
eyes during plainsong. faith was the perfect finale, i will never
tire of heaing that song.
i took my new girlfriend to see them, her first show. her views?
"fucking excellent (you can't say that it's rude but i can't
express it any other way - i will DEFINITELY be going again!"
thanks robert, simon, jason, roger and perry for a truly
memorable evening. i am so sorry for doubting you!!
POSTED TO DESCENT:
Several things here; I'm not as good as other people at giving reviews, but
that was a damn good show, and yes we got the third encore with Faith and
it rocked!
Ok, so firstly; set list anyone? I need to know what I heard cos there was
a lot I don't know yet. So I have to find myself some more albums before
the summer.
Secondly (not that I doubt you Steph) are they *definately* playing glasto
this year? Ooh, I do hope so.
Thirdly, did anyone get a DAT/Mini disc recorder in? Great bag search; I
had two bags and a trenchcoat and they only searched one bag. I got the
bottle lid off my milk confiscated thouth (?!)
Fourthly - You lucky people who stood up, was that *two* songs you managed
to mosh for, or just one? Apart from about ten people in the middle it
looked static! Or was it just my eyesight? But it was a great gig :)
POSTED TO DESCENT:
This was my 5th concert, (the others spanned 1992-1997) one of
probably a hundred I've heard on bootlegs over the years:- and without a
shadow of a doubt the best.
I was a full of trepidation about the venue; all I knew of Wembley was the
Play Out video, and my impression from that was just of an immense
space, and very little "intimacy" between the band and audience. But, as
the only date this year (less said about my struggle and failure toget hold
of tickets for the Astoria, the better) I certainly wasn't going to turn it
down.
My view, from the right-hand side balcony, front row and about half way
down was stunning; close enough so I could see everyone in the band
perfectly but far away enough so that I could appreciate the light-show
too. I feel that the lightshow was a major part of what made it such an
excellent concert; I loved the idea of the images on the screen (especially
during A Forest and Sinking!) and the use of similar lighting arrangements
to lots of my favourite live shows (the sparkles during Plainsong, Deep
Green Sea a la Show) made the show familiar but special at the same
time.
I needn't have worried about a lack of intimacy either, as from the
moment Out Of This World began it was clear the the band were all
playing with great intensity and emotion. A lot of the older songs that
have had to be adapted to accommodate the new line up are greatly
improved by it, and every single one came across as "this is the best we
can do".
When you take into account that there was a distinct lack of pop singles
played, and none from the last decade, you can see that the idea for this
concert was to demonstrate a side of the band that's not often been
shown in either the last album, or the last tour. This concert showed for
once and for all that the Cure can convey epic emotion (39,
Disintegration, Prayers For Rain) to a huge audience and have every one
of us experience its power.
The one song on Bloodflowers that I was sure couldn't transfer to a live
setting, There Is No If, came across brilliantly, and didn't for a minute lose
its sense of being whispered to the most precious person in your world.
Just Like Heaven came at a perfect spot in the set because I''d been
expecting it near the start and had given up all of hope of hearing it, and
then it started in that so-familiar, heart-lifting way.
By the end of Faith I felt emotionally drained and so blessed to have been
a part of all this... (The fact I was persistent enough to meet Perry after
the show, having waited by the stage door until 1:30am, and say
thankyou for such a performance is another story!!)
I hope they tour again. I hope that this isn't the last Cure show I ever
see. But if it had to be, it would be a wonderful way to end this ride.
<~xtra big grin
I think that's it now... And I must assure you I wasn't getting at anyone
who was standing; who am I to say that I want to see you jumping around? :)