Saturday, March 29, 2014

The Cure in London (03-29-14)

Setlist: Plainsong, Prayers For Rain, A Strange Day, A Night Like This, Stop Dead, Push, Inbetween Days, 2 Late, Jupiter Crash, End of the World, Lovesong, Mint Car, Friday I'm in Love, Doing the Unstuck, Trust, Pictures of You, Lullaby, High, Harold & Joe, The Caterpillar, The Walk, Sleep When I'm Dead, Just Like Heaven, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Want, The Hungry Ghost, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, Disintegration

1st Encore: If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, Shake Dog Shake, Fascination Street, Bananafishbones, Play For Today, A Forest

2nd Encore: Catch, The Lovecats, Hot Hot Hot, Let's Go to Bed, Freakshow, Close To Me, Why Can't I Be You?

3rd Encore: Boys Don't Cry, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab.

Once again, a huge thank you to the brilliant JC/Perfect.Murder for his updates tonight. He truly is the best! So funny! He made little custom photos for each song tonight, instead of just typing the name. Also, a huge thank you to Geoff and Olivier for their setlist updates. Sincerely appreciate it so much! Thanks to for the vines and to everyone who sent photos, info, etc. Can't do any of this without your help. Thank you!

Videos: Plainsong 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / Prayers For Rain / A Strange Day 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / A Strange Day & Boys Don't Cry / A Strange Day, A Night Like This, Stop Dead / A Night Like This / Stop Dead / Push 1 - 2 - 3 / 2 Late 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / Inbetween Days / Inbetween Days & Friday I'm in Love / Lovesong / Friday I'm in Love 1 - 2 - 3 / Doing the Unstuck 1 - 2 / Trust / Pictures of You 1 - 2 - 3 / Lullaby 1 - 2 / Harold & Joe 1 - 2 - 3 / The Caterpillar 1 - 2 / The Caterpillar & The Walk / The Walk / Just Like HeavenWant / Disintegration / If Only Tonight We Could Sleep 1 - 2 - 3 / Shake Dog Shake / Fascination Street 1 - 2 / Bananafishbones & Play For Today / Play For Today & A Forest / A Forest 1 - 2 - 3 / Catch / Catch & The Lovecats / The Lovecats / Hot Hot Hot / Let's Go To Bed 1 - 2 / Freakshow / Close To Me / Boys Don't Cry / Boys Don't Cry & 10:15 Saturday Night / Boys Don't Cry, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab / 10:15 Saturday Night 1 - 2 / 10:15 Saturday Night & Killing An Arab / Killing An Arab 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
 
Video Clips: Plainsong / Prayers For Rain / A Night Like This / Stop Dead 1 - 2 / Push 1 - 2 / Inbetween Days / Pictures of You / Lovesong 1 - 2 / Friday I'm in Love 1 - 2 / Just Like Heaven / Fascination Street 1 - 2 / Catch / Why Can't I Be You? /

Vines: Plainsong / Prayers for Rain 1 - 2 - 3 / Strange Day 1 - 2 - 3 / Night Like This 1 - 2 - 3 / Stop Dead 1 - 2 / Push 1 - 2 - / Inbetween Days 1 - 2 - 3 / 2 Late 1 - 2 / Jupiter Crash 1 - 2 / For more of BuddhaFreaks Vines, check here.

Photos: Mark / Marsworld / Lindsay / Greg / It's A Perfect Day / Aaron Law / On Nights Like This 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / BrucieBonus / Christoph / Teenage Cancer Trust (and Facebook) / 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (Tim Pope) - 7 - 8 (Panorama during Trust) - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 (Robert & Andy Anderson at the Aftershow) - 47 - 48 -

Reviews & Articles: The Final Word / God Is In The TV / Huffington Post UK / The Times / Royal Albert Hall / Evening Standard / Almost Predictable. Almost. / Female First UK / Daily Star / NME / Rock Subculture


Perfect.Murder: Reeves and Simon hugging as they walk back on stage for 2nd encore.

Geoff: Last night Robert was very chatty...but is very quiet tonight.

Geoff: Robert after 2 Late, "I was closer then". :)

@stenweb: Simon is bouncing all over the stage. No wonder the bar had sold out of energy drinks.

Just got word from Geoff that there are tickets available at the RAH box office right now! Door 12.

7:25 PM - @JimRockss: heartbreaking video about teenage cancer being played on big screen

7:20 PM - @stenweb: the XFM presenter said expect similar length and amount of songs as last night. Let's not forget why The Cure are playing - teenage cancer trust. Text 70500 to donate £5

7:07 PM - @ghostfinder: Not sure if I can tweet a panorama, but here goes...

6:54 PM - @adysutton: View inside the RAH

6:45 PM - @john_malloy: My view.

6:40 PM - @ghostfinder: Obligatory Cure selfie.

6:28 PM - Maciek: Fans gathered outside the Queens Arms Pub.

6:27 PM - @john_malloy: nearing the doors

6:19 PM - @marsworld: just came across Jason outside the rah! he was in a hurry and just took a couple of pics with fans... and..me! : )

5:57 PM - Tom: As usual many touts about but for once they are being chased away. They will be back I'm sure. Have seen 7 Robertalikes - all rather portly!

5:47 PM - Tom: Door 1 - standing only. Better join the q!

5:37 PM - Tom: Outside Door 6 for merchandise.

5:12 PM - Photo from Tom of the queue outside RAH.

3:32 PM - @john_malloy: queues forming.

Soundcheck: 2 Late, Jupiter Crash, Harold and Joe, Freakshow, bits of Plainsong and Mint Car, Plainsong. (Thanks u-a-b-f)

March 29th, 2014
Night 2 at the Royal Albert Hall
In support of Teenage Cancer Trust
Doors at 6:30-45 / The Cure at 7:30 / Ends at 11 or so.
US start times are 3:30 PM eastern, 2:30 PM central, 1:30 PM mountain, 12:30 PM pacific. Current time in London here.

"Please note that there is no support artist for this concert and The Cure will be on stage at 7.30pm. The Teenage Cancer Trust pre-show introductions will begin at 7pm."

Robert Smith: "SPECIAL EDITION CURE T-SHIRTS WILL BE ON SALE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (ALL PROCEEDS TO THE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST) AND THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL ARE ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE MERCHANDISE STAND (LOCATED AT DOOR 6) FROM 5:30PM ONWARDS BOTH NIGHTS…
…DOORS TO THE HALL WILL BE OPENING AT 6:30PM, AND THE CURE ARE PLANNING TO GET ONSTAGE BY 7:30PM…SO DON'T BE LATE!!!"

If you're going to the show and wouldn't mind helping me with the live coverage, please let me know. Mainly looking for live setlist updates and photos of the merchandise, but anything you want to contribute will be welcomed. Olivier should be providing updates at It's A Perfect Day, and Perfect.Murder & Steven have also offered to help, but we can always use backup. We can do it via email, Twitter, Spacebook, text, WhatsApp, whatever works best for you.

Thank you, and have a great time at the show tonight!

84 comments:

  1. Craig..do you need any help tonight? Geoff

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  2. Surely they won't play the same set as last night, right?!

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    1. I hope not! Am there tonight and hope for a few different things.....6 different ways? Although don't you need 2 keyboard players for that?

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  3. just on way from sunny bournemouth to london , hope tonight there are some surprises ,LIKE SONGS FROM FAITH AND BURN ....HINT HINT !!!

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  4. I'm still lokking for help from someone to buy me a t-shirt, man size L, of course I'll refund the cost and postage, thanks.

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    1. Can do. Where do you want it sent?

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    2. Hi Tom,
      it's to be sent to France if that's ok for you.

      There's no hurry at all for shipping don't worry about that.
      If you can grab some free stuff like a flyer, postcard, or free newspaper, that's great bonus. No trouble, I let you see what you can do.
      I'm out, please write later here. For now, just enjoy the show tonight.
      Thanks
      Fabien

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    3. Hi Tom, contact me at fabien(dot)prive(at)orange(dot)fr

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  5. I have 2 spare stalls tickets for tonight, together in block L. Can meet at the venue as I am going. Craigthelwell@hotmail.com

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  6. No bother....email me at geoffcherrill(@)hotmail(.)com and I'll sort WhatsApp details.

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  7. Soundcheck: ..., Jupiter crash, harold and joe

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    1. Very Short parts of plainsong and Mint car

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    2. Thank you! Olivier says they also did 2 Late earlier.

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    4. I hope that they play it again tonight. Robert flubbed about half of the lyrics last night.

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  8. I'm not fond on the second song being prayers for rain...

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  9. At work on a Saturday, but I expect an epic show just as yesterday! :)

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  10. The main set is probably going to be identical to yesterday's, which would make sense for an event such as this. They might mix things up a bit in the encores, let's wait and see.

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  11. usually the second night is slightly darker, we'll see.

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  12. One of the '2 Late' links brings up a clip of 'Inbetween Days'.

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  13. in a diferent word, i just found this interview from France
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAObCHEjZrs&feature=share

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  15. And this is why I don't understand the fans that buy tickets on consecutive nights. There may be a few changes in the setlist but most of the time they are going to be exactly the same.

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    1. Of course, there is nothing wrong with fans that choose to do that but there is no way the band would prepare 7 hours hours of different material for two shows. I just don't understand it, I find it all a bit weird and it is more annoying that I missed out on tickets due to fans buying tickets for both shows and scalpers that try and take advantage of it.

      I just wish the band would release a new album a do a proper tour. I have no chance at going to these one off shows.

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    2. I once went to two consecutive shows on the Dream tour and indeed after the excitment of the first night, i was disappointed the second night. It's like watching the same movie or football match with a replay on two consecutive nights. It looses its interest.

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    3. Exactly Fabien G. I can understand if it was known there would be huge changes in the setlist but most of the time that doesn't happen.

      I've seen the band 4 times, each with a year or two in between. Twice at their own shows, once an Awards show and once at a festival. They have all been special in their own way Hearing the same songs one day after another would take that special feeling away.

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    4. Take a look at some Prayer Tour setlists and then take a look at Wish Tour setlists and beyond. The band generally switches things up enough to make it interesting.

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    5. I have done previously Shawn. Swing tour was very varied for example.

      But these days, the band don't generally switch things around that much. I think they did a little bit last year on the South American tour but they generally only bring in one or two 'new songs'. My comment is mainly aimed at those that are bound to say that they are dissappointed in today's setlist despite it being quite different to what they played 2-3 years ago.

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  16. How many more CURE shows are we guaranteed, Beau?

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    1. I don't think that is the point though. These are the same fans that buy tickets to a festival in South Korea just because the band is playing there. I don't understand that logic either.


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    2. If you tried and failed to get tickets I can understand that you would be pissed that double-dippers are there. Double-dippers should not be disappointed in a show with only 1 or 2 song changes.

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  17. I'm not really pissed at them. It is their luck really, I had tickets but my browser decided to crash at the wrong point.

    I just don't understand it when people complain about setlists not changing when the band already play for three and a half hours and are half of their setlist is already full of songs that they weren't even playing 4-5 years ago.

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  18. Wow, grouchy crew here tonight! My goodness - you have people who should just be enjoying the moment and instead are trying to post videos to share with ungrateful people. No they're not all perfect, but they have the best intentions. Would you go to that effort if you were there?
    And a Cure show is not just a set list! It's the camaraderie with people from all over the world, the energy, the nuances (did Robert learn the words to 2 Late yet?), the total high you have when you walk out, the whole experience!
    Do you really think that for people who were able to travel 6,000 miles that they WOULDN'T take advantage of the chance to go both nights? Yes, we all want a proper tour. Yes, we all want to be able to see shows without having to use a passport. And there were plenty of opportunities here to connect with someone for face value tickets - you can't use that excuse.
    So just be happy that there are lucky friends who CAN be there and share it with us, spending precious time texting setlists and taping songs for those of us who can't. And be happy that they are having a night they'll remember all their lives. They would do the same if the show were in your part of the world and you were there. Lighten up people! Turn up some music and dance along. Sheesh!

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    1. Personally, no I wouldn't make the effort to post videos. I'd be there enjoying the show.

      My comment was influenced by the person who said it was 'so disappointing' above. I actually agree with your comments (although, I still don't understand double-dippers). What I understand even less is those that complain about the setlists. There are bound to be some that have double dipped and will complain that the setlist didn't change.

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    2. no problems with double-dippers for me at all, i didn't get a ticket, nevermind,i hope they enjoy both shows, and i thank everybody for the updates and all. Personnally all i say is I'm just not going to make it to two shows in a row again. I'd rather go to two dates separated by a few months.

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    3. Yeah me too. My only problem is with the ones that will complain about the setlist being unchanged.

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    4. Fair enough, but I would bet you that most "double-dippers" will be OK with the unusual carbon-copy show. Just getting over the shock of hearing some of those songs, it might take a second time hearing them to take it all in. Anyone who got to be there twice and bitches should be totally written off. Let them go pout with Maccatori.

      I'm also one to just be there in the moment, so I am always grateful to the people who can send the updates and video and still feel like they're not missing something.

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  19. Even the camera man left Royal Albert hall after freak show , he felll asleep under the show ..
    'Robert Smith : we never play t same set 2 nights in s row.... Or do they ?!?!

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  20. Replies
    1. Behind the band was a gigantic screen showing the concert live -or at least some of it.

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  21. Thanks again for tonight, Craig.

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  22. Craig, would it be possible to ban Eric?

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    1. Just ignore him. Giving him any sort of attention or acknowledgement is what he wants.

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  23. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2010/09/banning-commenters-on-blogger.html

    &

    http://www.mybloggerlab.com/2012/06/how-to-block-ip-address-on-blogspot.html

    Maybe?

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  24. Seriously reading some of the above is annoying.....last night it was all wow!! they played 2late and Harold &Joe, yet 24 hours later it's like fucking hell same set...Granted, it would be nice to get a slight song rotation, but can't you just enjoy it for what it is? A CURE SHOW!!!

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  25. Just catching up on the thread. Most of the comments about wanting a different setlist are from those people playing along at home. In my experience, the people at the concert (whether it is one show OR "double-dippers) are in the moment and happy with whatever songs The Cure offer to play.

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  26. If they are so annoyed with the (recent) setlists, why they still keep going to the concerts (if, as mentioned, these people aren't just online and are just envious...)? Just quit going and let others that want to see the "repetitive" setlists and enjoy them more than you do... some people seem to still expect they will play just Pornography top to bottom.

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  27. I would prefer a drum machine on A Strange Day. Don't like nothing Jason has changed in the drums

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  28. I was at both shows and they were both great...but i was a little disappointed that they didn't even vary the setlist by one song between nights. I thoroughly enjoyed myself though

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  29. Once again, the people who were not at the show yesterday and posted comments here about their opinion that they think it's a bit slightly a shame there is almost no difference in the setlist between the two shows is no cure-bashing. we were just friendly-writng really. But can't we even leave a slightly negative point of view? Do we ahev to be banned because we don't like 1000% the cure do? Indeed i was envious not to be at one show, good for you if you enjoyed the two shows with the smae setlst or almost, but in my opinion, for what it's worth, nobody takes it wrong, i would have loved to attend one night, but not two with the same setlist, i find it annoying and lacking surprise.

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  30. I criticise when I deem it necessary, but come on...

    They did the show for free, they surely paid for rehearsal space to learn 2 Late and Harold & Joe (remember Reeves won't have known these songs at all, the road crew may not have been paid a penny for this, I think identical setlists at a charity event would have been fine.

    Given the setlist is virtually unchanged in two years, something I have criticised myself, what were people expecting? When I seen them at Leeds I stopped watching the streams of shows just before and I didn't watch the BBC footage of Reading, because I knew I'd ruin Leeds otherwise. Too much of anything spoils the magic. I'm not upset if people went both nights to RAH and were bored last night, the rest
    of us could not get tickets partly because of those people.

    Stop moaning about a charity event fucking hell !!

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  31. I would really love to hear 2 late and harold & joe, i love these songs, i was really excited when i read this here on COF, i hope they play them again when i next go see them. But there is no link between the crew / band not being paid and the gigs being charity events and the choice of plaing the same setlist two nights back to back, is there?
    once again don't get mad, we're just discussing in a friendly way here (i wish).

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    1. I think the current (i.e. at least two years) setlist is tedious as hell. But that is my point though, it hasn't really changed in that time, so wasn't going to radically change overnight.

      What I mean about band and crew not being paid (and I don't know if the crew did/didn't get paid) they had to rehearse not only a couple of new songs, put together the backdrops for each song, put together the lights for each song, I find it realistic to suggest The Cure have recently paid out thousands of £££ for rehearsal space to practice just a few new introductions to the set and to run through new backdrops/light show etc. All these things are rehearsed. They won't have recouped any of those costs. The Cure are rich, but they won't thrown down tens of thousands to spend two weeks rehearsing not just one, but two entire new sets for just two nights.

      I imagine this is why the core setlist no longer changes, because EVERYTHING is rehearsed and in place, lights etc included. Until they tour a new album it won't change, for this reason.

      Yeah it's only two songs, but even Roger will have spent time sampling and tweaking the keyboard files for 2 Late plus H&J.

      It's all time and money, they did do it for free in the first place AND added another night for free.

      I don't think the night was entirely about The Cure. I made a donation thanks to Craig posting the details. Craig posted the details because of The Cure, I could not get tickets so read/watched the stuff in Craig's reports...so if The Cure weren't there, Teenage Cancer Trust would have received £0.00 from me.

      So, we surely see here what was most important about the two shows, shows that weren't on the agenda for the band in the first place.

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  32. Two identicals setlists can be so different At so many levels...crowd reactions, intensity of the performance, mood of the band and so on...by the way, I was At The gig yesterday and it was Amazing and The band gives us Two jems like H&J and 2 Late...it was not a tour, it was a single event, we can't pretend a change of setlist for a single event...

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  34. Maybe they should have just played for two hours each night like most bands, then with that number of songs played, across the two nights the set lists each night would have been very different. I'm sure Robert is very used to being damned if they do, damned if they don't.

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  35. The setlist criticism is amazing. I remember a few years ago during the reflection shows that people were buying tickets left, right and centre to every show they could get to - to hear the SAME setlist.

    Also, my highlight of the night (Saturday) was Robert throwing his cowbell across the stage after Freakshow "This isn't my instrument"

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  36. Couple of thoughts:

    As a fairly diehard Cure fan who couldn't get to both shows, I'm glad they played the same setlist on both nights. I went on Saturday, and had a blast. I'm pretty sure Robert would have had that in mind, given that the Friday show was a bonus date - he wouldn't want fans to miss out on anything. I'm thrilled to have heard two of my favourite songs, 2 Late and Harold and Joe life, and would have been pretty gutted had either of them (or indeed any other rarity) not been played on the night I went.

    Also, I'm continually amazed at the bile poured over Jason. He's a great drummer. He's been in the Cure for nearly 20 years now. People really need to stop wishing Boris would come back. It's deeply, deeply tedious.

    Finally - I had a great night but it was spoiled a little by the dicks behind us talking (i.e., shouting) to each other for the entire 3.5 hours. I asked three times, they were quite polite about it... but didn't pay me any attention. If you pay £100+ for tickets, I don't see the point of not actually paying the band any attention.

    I shall endeavour to be far, far less polite next time.

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  37. yeah, that's true that some will complain that the cure do this, some will complain that the cure do that, everybody has a personnal point of view, and that's fine, i'm glad one is able to express it and not other cure fand taking it bad/wrong. so i don't complain about anything personnaly, how could i, I was not even there, i enjoyed it here on COF in my own way and simply discussing and confronting feelings over the reports.

    Apart from that, i understand Adam being upset by guys shouting at each other all along a show, i don't like it either.

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  38. I would also like to add re:setlist, that these shows were being filmed. I noticed 5 cameras (two at the front, one behind the mixing desk, one behind the circle and one that was occasionally put behind Jason), there may have been more.

    Only two of these set-ups were used on the big screen meaning they were not being edited live like the displays at a festival.

    I think it's likely that Teenage Cancer Trust may be putting out a DVD, or at the very least some online material that features highlights of all of the performers. The Shane Meadows short film will probably feature on it too.

    General rule of thumb when it comes to filming performers over consecutive nights is for the performer to use the same setlist as it gives the editors more choice over which take(s) to use.

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  39. too many cymbals and snare, too few toms and drum

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  40. For me a highlight was the revelation that is reeves. At the reflections gig was unsure of him but this time didnt really think of Porl/Pearl.
    The Night like this guitar (sax) solo was quality.


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    1. Of course you were unsure about Reeves at the Reflection shows. He wasn't in the band back then. :)

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  41. .........still kinda miss Lol for no particular reason!

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  42. also went to both shows and not that upset it was the same set list - though did think the 1st encore would be different. 1st night was very close to reeves and was glad the crowd stood for most of the show & the 2nd stood at the back of the arena with my very old 'prayer tour' t-shirt, being in 2 different places for the shows was great.

    highlights = 2 late, from the edge of... 100 years (backdrop put the song onto a different level) and a forest gets better and better (again & again...)

    9/10

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  43. I don't know if anyone noticed but at the beginning of one of the songs - I don't recall which one - Jason lost one of his drumsticks, but like a magician he had a replacement in his hand within a second, so that it went unnoticed. Great moment.

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  44. It was my FIRST concert of the Cure, the FIRST at the Royal... you can easily imagine how do I felt...
    Especially during Plainsong, Push, a Forest...
    From the edge of the dep green sea really really rocks at this show

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  45. Will upload my pics / videos from both night hopefully tonight. What the fantastic nights! I want more!

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  46. Check my pictures there: https://www.facebook.com/gmichalik/media_set?set=a.617020831713320.1073741830.100002162264715&type=3
    also check the Friday gig if you like, but I was seating far away from the stage on that night.

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  47. Review from my website : http://www.thefinalword.co.uk/content/view/1245/35/ and also pictures at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-reed/sets/72157643272441913/

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