Live Review: The Cure - Shows of a Lost World Tour with The Twilight Sad

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

United Center Chicago
Saturday - June 6, 2023

Magical: "Beautiful and delightful in such a way as to seem to be removed from everyday life".

Mystical: " Inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination".
Mythical: Can get tricky. However: "Based on or described in a myth as contrasted with history" Or better yet, "existing only in the imagination, fictitious, imaginary".
The three M's.

And notice how some Cure titles permeate the three M's.

So it goes without saying that when you don't tour for a bit, make the announcement that you're planning a major tour, and that new songs are ready willing and able to come out of hiding, after years of being on the down low- well, the mythical can easily take precedence.

And with a band like The Cure, that's so easy to dive into that wormhole.
If you love and adore a band that much, you rely on your memories, your dreams.
Things can easily expand that way, all well and good.

Whole different story when you want to be present, and witness them yet again, and capture the magic.

And as the tour builds, starting back in New Orleans on May 10th, but really long before that from last year- Chicago being towards the end with them heading east, ending on July 1st in Miami- it becomes apparent that they've expanded their setlist throughout, and have been long enough together as of now to blend together as one- Just the way Robert likes it.

You notice, because Robert is smiling lots, feeling the beautiful blend of all things "Cure related" musically, emotionally.

And the United Center crowd- full display rapturous.

And with the surprise return of guitarist and keyboardist Perry Bamonte, who last played with the band during "Wish", and specifically the gorgeous song "Trust".
Although not in the setlist, but still, the quality of that song and others like it- ever evident throughout their long 31 song set, with all things ending around 11:40pm cst.
Two long encores- not one or two songs, then wave goodbye.

No no no - try the first encore- "Disintegration" "Plainsong" related- along with others.
The second encore- even bigger and bolder. Try ten songs, even with the surprising  "Why Can't I Be You"- all high notes of "Whyyyyy!" easily matched, with the crowd in utter delight.

Sprinkled with "Lullaby" and "The Walk". Love that album "Japanese Whispers", swinging post punk style.

That album was on repeat- LOTS, back in the day.
And of course "Inbetween Days" and "Just Like Heaven", and of course "Boys Don't Cry", and "Killing an Arab".

The kinda setlist you just don't want to end.
And beautifully done, without much fanfare:
Nice and nonchalant vertical LED screens along the backdrop, cool and moody lighting throughout, and then of course the band, all basically front and center, and somewhat close, not far apart.

That in my opinion, is important to note.

There's not much need for fanfare, and K Mart- ish bells and whistles to shock and awe.
Music takes precedent.
Above all else.

Camaraderie is of the utmost- between everyone.
In this day and age, when attention spans can be somewhat limited, and excitement and blasts of visuals seem to be the order of the day- The Cure, are the exact opposite of that.

Their music speaks volumes- their entire catalog.
Not many bands can say that.

The Cure can.

Even the new songs, right off the bat with "Alone"..such beautiful sadness, and melancholy. Or "A Fragile Thing".
How they started there, with emphasis on gentle, also speaks volumes.
Mixing the pot of Cure related sweetness and melody.
Wow.
Such a splendid and easy going vibe, nothing rushed, even from the pit while photographing.
No need for any angst whatsoever.
No pushing and shoving.

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The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Let it all flow, like The Cure onstage in front of you.
Even into song five- "Like Cockatoos". Didn't see that coming, from "Kiss Me Kiss Kiss Me", again, one of my favorite albums from them, and even to this very day, an album worth revisiting, over and over.

But "Like Cockatoos" has a mystical blend of seductive goodness, with a simple melody that's so downright hummable, and intoxicating.
And the audience- multi generational across the board. Families. Lots of 'em, along with the diehards.

Along with Robert, the Cure's other constant- Simon Gallup. Don't ever underestimate the importance of this guy.

He brings the energy, sure. He molds and melds. And it's not deliberate. It's all emotion, all for the love of the band, and propelling forward.
They all have their roles to play, they all have their distinctive take on the songs being played and presented, with nothing hurried, nothing pushed to extremes.
Consolidated and make good of, that's the order of the day.
And also with Reeves Gabrels onboard, this just adds more beauty, elevates the overall mood of things, and beefs up the sound.
Another point that should not go unnoticed.

So yes, there's mournfulness portrayed throughout, but that it's done so exquisitely, so honestly, just touches the heart, that you know, when paying attention, witnessing the evidence and facts in front of you- that we're delicate human beings if we want to be.
We have choices, even when comprehending loss, and that our time on this mortal coil is rather limited. Do your best to make use of it.
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Robert Smith, his songwriting of past, and more so of late, packs a payload of hurt.
A lot of it personal, a lot of it family related.
But to convey all of that pain in such beauty, and with such honesty emphasizes to me yet again that Robert knows how to write with lots to say, lots to convey, without being pushy, without bludgeoning with angst.
This is why their show at the United Center, this tour in particular, will remain ingrained in my head forever- the gentleness of it all, embracing reckonings of all kinds with despair, and done so from the heart.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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The Cure, Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Reeves Gabrels, Perry Bamonte, Roger O' Donnell, Jason Cooper, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, BobbyTalamine

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