Riot Fest 2023: Day Three Photo Review

Robert Smith of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Simon Gallup of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Sunday - September 17, 2023 - Douglass Park

All things The Cure and Riot Fest on Day Three (and of course all the other bands covered). First- Heavy rain. Heavy rain in the early morning compounding problems on actually opening and starting the festival.
Riot delayed the opening until 2pm, and acts performing didn't get going until 3pm.
So bands either got rescheduled or were stricken from the schedule.
Most unfortunate, not witnessing live Empire State Bastard- a band that's ferocious, with Dave Lombardo on drums.
Outside of that hiccup-
All things The Cure.

The buildup to this magical show- weeks on end prior, the hype and the love.
What makes Riot Fest so cool (amongst many things), is what they did schedule wise- blocking off in entirety all other acts performing after 7:45pm, slotting it all to The Cure, and nothing but The Cure.
What also made this show so magical was that this date at Riot Fest is the only date they'll be playing in North America for round number two, before heading to South America in mid November.
So, that's what makes this show at Riot Fest so extra special.

The takeaways:
Opening with one of their new songs (like they did back in June of this year on their proper North American Tour)- with "Alone" - which gives Robert a chance to observe and welcome his audience, before even singing or picking up his guitar.

Have to say right off the bat how magical that was to witness yet again.
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The setlist was heavy on the hits, as most festivals are, but also lots of nuggets throughout, such as "Cold", from "Pornography", "Burn", from "The Crow" soundtrack, and also the two last songs before the encore, with "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea", from "Wish", and another new song "Endsong".
Interspersed throughout- just lots and lots of lovely.
And the band, even for a one off festival gig- true to form and magical.

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Cults - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

AFI - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Dresden Dolls - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Robert Smith of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Roger O'Donnell of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Reeves Gabrels of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Robert Smith of The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The Cure - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

What makes the band tick: Simon Gallup. Propulsive and low end everything as always, checking on his bandmates, and Robert in particular throughout.
Same with Reeves Gabrels on guitar, adding luster to the proceedings.

Same with Jason Cooper on drums, Perry Bamonte on synths and occasional guitar, and of course Roger O' Donnell on all manner of keyboards as well.
These guys together- a band worth watching- (again and again on repeat).
The whole set- the entire evening- from the pit, to the back of the house- the back of the field from the main stage- compelling, and also so rewarding.
Hard to not forget this show, and the meaning of it all.

Has to be said the importance of The Cure, and what they mean so vividly and emotionally to so many people- not just the Chicago faithful, but all over the world faithful.

The other acts documented, in descending order from headliner The Cure:
The Dresden Dolls- Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione (and accompanied by one song with special guest Mellisa Auf der Maur- Happy to see them perform live again, as intensely magical as they are with their brand of straight up wicked electric cabaret.
The Mars Volta- No photographers allowed- however that set was all encompassing jam worthy awesomeness.

AFI (A Fire Inside) - well that's still burning apparently. A Packed pit with photographers, and a rapturous crowd, equals excitement and energy and a certain amount of mayhem, Riot Fest style.

L.S. Dunes- and they deliver their own special brand of mayhem as well, what with Anthony Green mixing it up with the crowd one song into their set, let alone the intensity of their brand of post- hardcore whatever you want to call it. Fun guys, making the most of Riot Fest, just like last year.

And of course RIDE- consisting of the one/ two punch from Mark Gardener and Andy Bell- and for the time that they were given, they succeeded. Wished they could play a longer set though, their music just builds and builds and builds.
Same with Alex Maas and The Black Angels- even in mid afternoon, they have a sound that morphs into '60's psychedelia, mixed with their own personal tastes in dark garage rock reverie.

Also the same for The Cults- consisting of Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion- way too short of a set- but still, with their captivating and striking visuals- just a pleasant Sunday afternoon surprise, and a band like the others that just always delivers.
Such a magical Day Three of Riot Fest, let alone a magical all over the three days of Riot Fest- just so memorably splendid.
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Hard to truly describe and take in the magnificence of it all
But man, coming full circle....Robert Smith and The Cure....

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Riot Fest 2023, The Cure, JBTV Music Television, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Dresden Dolls, Cults, AFI, Chicago