The Cure Delivers Moody, Hit-Heavy Set at First of Three Hollywood Bowl Shows: Concert Review
variety.comEllise Shafer The first words sang by Robert Smith at the Cure’s Hollywood Bowl show in L.A. on Tuesday night — “This is the end/ Of every song that we sing” — set a reflective tone for the rest of the famed goth rock band’s performance as attendees were taken through its 45-year history.
The two-hour and 45-minute set kicked off with “Alone,” an unreleased track from the Cure’s long-awaited 14th album, “Songs of a Lost World.” Judging from the several new songs the band played, including the world premiere of refashioned ’90s demo “Another (Happy) Birthday,” the Cure’s forthcoming project sees Smith grappling heavily with mortality and the loss that comes with growing older.
But the music itself showed no signs of aging: Smith’s voice is as velvety smooth and strong as ever, drummer Jason Cooper didn’t miss a beat and bassist Simon Gallup provided a powerful backbone for the rest of the band’s lush instrumentals.
The Cure’s musical prowess was immediately put on display with the set’s second song, “Disintegration” classic “Pictures of You,” as the band delivered a near-exact performance to the song’s 1989 recording and got the crowd singing along — even to the guitar part.
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