Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Cure at Denver Riot Fest 2014

Riot Fest & Sideshow
September 20th, 2014
Mile High Stadium parking lot in Denver, CO
9:30 - midnight on the May Farms Stage

Setlist: Plainsong, Prayers for Rain, Fascination Street, Sleep When I'm Dead, Push, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Before Three, Pictures of You, Lullaby, High, Wrong Number, The Caterpillar, The Walk, Cut Here (first time since 2002), Lovesong, Mint Car, Friday I'm in Love, Doing the Unstuck, Bananafishbones, Never Enough, Want, The Hungry Ghost, One Hundred Years, Give Me It, Disintegration

Encore: The Lovecats, Hot Hot Hot, Close to Me, Why Can't I Be You?, Boys Don't Cry.

Note: After Close To Me, Robert stopped the band and Roger came over to center stage to talk with RS. There was a bit of a conference with the band, then Robert said that they would have to cut some songs they wanted to play in the encore, because there was a man standing on stage looking angry and sort of growling at them (something along those lines), worried that they'd go over the curfew.
Update: It was Catch and Freakshow that had to be cut. (Thanks Stephanie)

Photos: Sound of Violence / it's a perfect day

Reviews: Your Older Brother Sam / Glide / Colorado Public Radio / Reverb / Craig

Videos: Clips of various songs / Plainsong 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 / Prayers For Rain 1 - 2 / Fascination Street 1 - 2 / Push / Inbetween Days 1 - 2 / Just Like Heaven 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / Pictures of You 1 - 2 / Lullaby 1 - 2 / Wrong Number / The Caterpillar / The Walk 1 - 2 / Cut Here 1 - 2 - 3 / Lovesong 1 - 2 / Mint Car 1 - 2 / Friday I'm in Love 1 - 2 - 3 / Doing the Unstuck / Bananafishbones / Never Enough / Want (Robert's howl) / Hungry Ghost / One Hundred Years 1 - 2 / Give Me It / The Lovecats 1 - 2 - 3 / Hot Hot Hot!!! / Close To Me 1 - 2 - 3 / Why Can't I Be You? / Boys Don't Cry 1 - 2  

Photo from Olivier at it's a perfect day.

67 comments:

  1. Have a great time all of you that are going! Lets hope for a big surprise like "Ariel" for the first time ever. Or a new song? I dont know whats more likely.

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    1. Here's another vote for "Ariel." And how 'bout a newly recorded official single of it?

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  2. Better chance of me playing keyboards tonight, than either of those things happening. :)

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  3. FYI - I had decent cell reception at the festival yesterday. :)

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    1. Great! Hope it holds up tonight. Had to text to Twitter in Chicago.

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    1. That's not a pop song or single, so no chance they'll play that. :)

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    2. Hey, they did 'Forever' at Curiosa Toronto. :)

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    1. Thank you, eric! And thank you for being so nice lately. I really appreciate it.

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  6. Going out on a limb here and hoping for "The last day of Summer",since we're almost there, it's one of my favourite song AND they never play anything off BloodFlowers anymore!!:)

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    1. 9 times I've seen them now and never have heard 1 song from Bloodflowers.... They also ignore Faith (for those of us that missed Reflections). I've only ever heard primary.... but don't worry. I've heard WRONG NUMBER 8 or 9 times, lol

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    2. I have been secretly hoping for Last Day of Summer ever since I realized tonight's show was so close to it. It would be perfect tonight. Call it the 3rd to last day of Summer. :)

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  7. And yeah, good show Craig...and everyone who's there!

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    1. Thank you, JC. Going to enjoy it no matter what. Then complain later. :)

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  8. Get those 'Cure Festival Setlist bingo cards at the ready...

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  9. I am over the moon!!! Can't wait for the show tonight!!! Craig... I will be wearing the red carnation... Ok I won't be. That would be weird. But I will be the one with crazy Cure nails.

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    1. Hi there!
      Do you think it will be easy for you to help me out with a Cure tee/Once i'm from Europe and no change to get one by myself?

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  10. Already a gathering of cure fans at the main stage

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    1. Ha! There always is. Always the usual suspects, too. :)

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  11. Has anyone spotted any Cure members like Roger or Simon, out and about at the festival?

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  12. I've been watching for band members lurking behind the stage, but haven't see anyone

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  13. I think that all major cure fans should get access to meet the band

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  14. I agree..hey Craig, perhaps we should resurrect the "true cute fan certificate"...
    I think I made the last edits to it back in 97....ugh

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  15. True CURE fan....stupid auto correct

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  16. I keep seein some guy w/ "Cure Hair" in the backstage area...

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    1. I saw that too could that be even he has hair like Robert and kind looks like him

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  17. Enjoy, Craig. Tell "the usual suspects" to pipe down :)

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  18. Me and mine are on the rail 2 hours so far 2 to go till robert

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  19. Hi this is secret reporter and number one cure fan. Looks like lightning here

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  20. I think Simon's Son Eden is their Roadie now???

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  21. Omg still spinning cut here what a last show in the states this year

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  22. In a lot of cities, Out of the darkness (suicide prevention) held their walks. I'm sure this was a coincidence but still very cool.

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  23. Was that the first playing of Never Enough with Reeves? I must have missed it if he's played it before. Would like to hear this...

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  24. always the same setlist apart some song
    NEVER ENOUGH especially with Reeves ??? really not a good choice !!!
    as I have said often that kind of song should always take Robert Old member!

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    1. While the setlist wasn't drastically different, the show was so much better than Chicago. Not that Chicago was bad by any means, but that spark that I said was missing there, was very present last night. They kicked ass!

      And give the new version of Never Enough a chance. You never know, you might like it.

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  25. Mmm.. I'd like to hear this heavier version of Never Enough too..

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  26. Crimson - No, Never Enough was played earlier this year at the BottleRock Festival. Last night was the 2nd time with Reeves. First time I heard it live and I loved it. Not normally a favorite live, but last night was so good!

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  27. Craig I respect your opinion! but for me if Robert would that have like what Reeves did!
    Robert brings a new album and stop playing the old hit

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    1. Oh I agree! I am more than ready to see them move on and bring out some new material. But if they are going to keep playing these festival shows, let's hope they can all be as good as last night.

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  28. Damn, what a show last night! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of that! Yes, even the pop bits. Shocking, I know. :)

    Before last night's show, I had resigned myself to this being my last Cure festival show. Maybe even my last Cure show for some time. I've going back on that now, and will evaluate it on a case by case basis.

    I'm the one who swore he'd never go to see The Cure at a festival. Hate the huge crowds, hate the short, poppy sets, just not worth it. Yet here I am, having seen them at 3 festivals in less than a year. And while the sets overall leave something to be desired, I loved each festival on its own. Voodoo and Chicago Riot were just flat out fun, and I had a fantastic time. And Denver Riot, while being the lesser of those 3, was a fantastic Cure show. So, yeah, I guess I don't mind festivals quite as much as I used to. But let's take a break and go back to Pure Cure shows now. :)

    Thoughts on Denver Riot posted to Twitter during/after the show:

    Mother Nature providing her own light show. Lots of lightning in the distance. Few raindrops falling now & then.
    So, yeah, I think it's dark and it looks like rain. This ought to be a Plainsong night. Fingers crossed!
    Big cheer as the fog machines come on. Wind is really blowing now...like it's the end of the world, I'd say. :)

    Bells! Chimes! The Cure start their @RiotFest Denver set with Plainsong. So gorgeous! Goosebumps every time.

    They sound fantastic tonight. Mix much better than Chicago.

    Sleep When I'm Dead. No one knows this one. :)

    Just Like Heaven. Massive sing a long in the parking lot. Awesome!

    Before starting Before 3, Robert said "I have to think now". :)

    Wrong Number...was going so good up until now. :P Take your limes and tangerines and shove them. :P Yes there's room in my life for one more trip to the moon. If it gets me away from ever hearing this song again. :P Just cut out the 1st 5 minutes and go directly to Reeves' part at the end.

    Damn, The Walk is really good tonight.

    Cut Here!!!! Holy shit!!! Love this! I miss you I miss you I miss you so much! Yes yes yes.

    Very emotional night. Loving it. A wish too late indeed.

    Robert introed Cut Here as Anagram. :)

    Lovesong. However far away...I will always love you.

    Doing the Unstuck...yep. DTU was so much fun tonight. Remembering an old friend who should be here tonight. You are missed so much!

    Never Enough. Oh really liking this new version! Love the slower heavier Never Enough.

    Want...oh hell yes, let's do this! Epic howl!

    Give Me It. Fucking fantastic!

    Hot Hot Hot. God, hot hot hot is so dammed fun! A live favorite now. Love that funk!

    Robert said they are being forced to cut some songs due to someone standing on stage growling at them.

    Robert at the end: "Thank you very much and goodnight. See you again. Enjoy tomorrow."

    Oh Chicago? Denver's show just kicked your ass. Damn that was fantastic!

    Cut Here! Never ever thought I'd hear that live. And it was so damn good!

    Give Me It was manic, intense, just incredible!

    And my first time hearing the new version of Never Enough. A song I'm not crazy about but loved this version.

    I love it when we're all excited and happy about a show. That mutual bonding over having seen something so good.

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  29. After Close To Me, Robert stopped the band and Roger came over to center stage to talk with RS. There was a bit of a conference with the band, then Robert said that they would have to cut some songs they wanted to play in the encore, because there was a man standing on stage looking angry and sort of growling at them (something along those lines), worried that they'd go over the curfew. Given that it was the pop encore, looks like Let's Go To Bed, and maybe Freakshow, were cut. Anyone get the stage setlist and can confirm?

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    1. I didn't see the set list, but they did bring out Robert's cowbell between sets, so I presume Freakshow was one of the encore songs they cut. A great show for my (The) 13th. Cut Here really was special.

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  30. More thoughts. Sorry. :)

    Loved that they started with Plainsong last night. It seemed obvious, given that Toronto got Shake Dog Shake, and Chicago got Open, but you can never be too sure. But as the lightning increased in the distance, the raindrops started to fall, and then the big gusts of wind blew in, you just knew that it was a Plainsong night. The couple next to me were in awe. It was fun to watch them react to the majesty of that song, the lights, the feelings it creates.

    Him: "Wow. That's how you start a show"
    Her: "Yeah, this is gonna be special"

    Just a wonderful way to start the show. And as I've said previously, Simon crouching down, staring into the audience, is one of my favorite Cure moments of all time.

    Prayers For Rain was a nice surprise. Really well played last night. Not an epic Raiiiiiiiiiiin, but long enough. And going right into Fascination after this was great! This Disintegration trio for an opening was perfect for last night.

    Sleep When I'm Dead is a pretty good song, and I don't mind it, but not sure it needs to be in the set so early. Sort of broke the momentum, as many fans around me seemed to not know it, and started talking, texting, ignoring the show. Not much of a reaction after it ended.

    I really enjoy the interaction between Reeves and Simon on Push. Looks like Reeves does, too. But with Simon's "deal with the devil" perpetual youth, it looks like dad jamming with son. :) Just a fun moment during these shows.

    Deep Green Sea. Love what Reeves does in it. Very different from Perry & Paul, but just as effective. Love the way he builds it up and then let's it take off. Watch him in the moments before "Something we will always want". You see him preparing for it, then jumping right in. Got a big cheer and lots of applause in my section.

    Before Three. Wonderful to hear it again. Not quite as good as in Chicago, I thought, but still so nice to get to sing along with that again. "We were so in love", "Yeah, yeah, yeah!". Will never tire of it.

    High was a nice addition. Not a big fan of it, but it played well last night. Got a good reaction in my section. Fun to sing along with my neighbors. :) Same goes for The Caterpillar. Surprising amount of people really into that one. Nice to hear.

    Wrong Number. Yeah, you're tired of hearing me complain about it. I know. But the song is soooo bad. So worthless in the set! I can't help but make jokes about my hatred of it. :) Being honest, I sort of had fun with it last night. Embraced it's awfulness and went along for the ride. If they could just cut the 1st 5 minutes, and go directly to the "Hello?" and Reeves' freakout part, it would be so much better!
    Again, Reeves' ending bit got a big cheer and applause.

    I loved The Walk last night. Not usually that into it, but something about it last night was infectious and fun. It might have been the audio mix, which was outstanding last night.

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  31. Even more! :)

    Favorite moment of the night. Cut Here into Lovesong. Getting Cut Here for the 1st time since 2002 was completely unexpected. Never imagined that might actually come back. And as someone who has loved that song since the day it was released, this was such a happy surprise. And it sounded so good!

    This was a wonderful emotional part of the show for me. Going from Cut Here ("I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you so much") into Lovesong ("However far away...") was so sad. So many emotions, but mainly missing an old friend who should have been there last night, enjoying a fantastic show from her favorite band, but just couldn't make it. She would have loved it! And I would have loved to have seen her so happy!
    As good as the show was, it would have been even better if she were there. You were though of lots during the show, and missed greatly! As always, Doing the Unstuck was your song, and I loved thinking of how happy you were during your Wish show and during that whole Cure era.. Thank you for giving me that wonderful association with the song.

    Mint Car and Friday are what they are. Not for me and a waste of time before getting back to the good stuff. :) Still, one can't deny the joy Friday brings to people. Mint Car gets a lesser reaction, though.

    Bananafishbones is a song I keep thinking I'm tired of, yet every time I hear it live, I totally get into it and enjoy the hell out of it. I would still like to see other Top songs get a more regular shot, like Birdmad Girl or Piggy in the Mirror, but I won't complain if I have to hear BFB a few more times. :) This also gets a surprisingly strong reaction from the crowd.


    Never Enough, Want, Give Me It were also my favorite moments from last night's show. Want is a given. Love that every time. Love letting out that howl/scream, and Robert seemed to go extra long last night. I was wonderful. Love it when people stare at you, wondering what in the hell you're howling about. :) But last night, I had some company. I wasn't alone in letting it out. :)

    Never Enough was the biggest surprise after Cut Here. Not a song I care for very much, at least live. Good song, fun, but nothing I really care about. But this new version that feels heavier, is slowed down a bit, maybe a bit funkier, really grabbed me. Never though I'd be looking forward to hearing NE again.

    And Give Me It. Incredible. So much energy! Feels like the song and stage are going to explode! That was my favorite version, I think. So good!

    Disintegration was a slight let down, once again. Lie in El Paso, it felt like something was missing. Lacking energy and emotion, I thought. This was better than El Paso, but nowhere near previous versions on the Prayer and Dream Tour. Don't really know. Maybe it's me?

    I think I've gone on enough. Very sorry for any of you who have read all of this. The encore was fun. And I didn't mind the pop. As mentioned above, Hot Hot Hot is now one of my live favorites. It is excellent now. Lovecats is fun, Close To Me was nice, even WCIBY was good, and I don't care for that one. And Boys Don't Cry was a nice finish to the night. Should have been Faith, but what can you do? :)

    Summation? Fucking excellent show! Chicago was very good, but Denver kicked its ass! So glad I went to both! Now onwards to 2015 and some regular Cure shows and maybe the next Trilogy? Cross those fingers and toes!

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    1. Spot on! Festivals are over....the band is in top form. Bring on the next Trilogy and new music!

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    2. In Chicago's defense, if you take both shows in the last two years we only missed 4 songs (Prayers for Rain, Never Enough, Cut Here, and Give Me It). Now if Mike Ness and his Social Distortions hadn't gone long that number would be only 3 songs. Being that Denver got an extra 15 minutes who's to say Chicago wouldn't have gotten those 3 songs as well? ;)

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    3. I agree something was "off" during Disintegration. Was more subdued.

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    4. Damn! Thanx for your review. I feel like i was there

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  32. How can you tell I enjoyed a show? I won't shut up about it. :)

    "You talked until your tongue fell out, and then you talked some more."

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  33. Show last night was AMAZING!!! Cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. ;) Thank you for posting the setlist!! Do you know the songs that were cut from the encore? Did anyone get a pic of the actual setlist?

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  34. Epic show! Best time I've had at a Cure concert since Reflections. Whatever was missing from El Paso and Lolla was there last night in FORCE. The new version of Never Enough is fun, hard, and playful, and I loved it despite never liking that song when it first came out (it always seemed like a non sequitur). And Prayers for Rain!!! I wanted to hear that live just one more time, so thanks to the Cure! Cut Here was a pleasant surprise, and I was totally caught off guard by it. The only thing that would have made it better would have been one slower song like Faith or Same Deep Water As You. Fantastic experience, and I got to share it with a good friend.

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    1. Also, I was so pleased they opened with Plainsong! This was my 7th Cure show since 1989 and I've never heard them open with anything else (except for Reflections). I love it! Here's to 6 more times!

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  35. It was a good concert but I'm still not getting that feeling i used to get seeing The Cure

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  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43aM96yN-Eo
    I prefer this version! :)

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  37. I been in love with The Cure since 1988 and have seen them (only) 6 times. I have always avoided the festival shows. I am short and I don't like seeing shows with people who might be at the fest for another band and decide to "check out" the band I LOVE! However, Denver's Riot Fest "cured" me of that. Everyone was soooo into it, no matter where I was in the crowd, and I moved around a fair bit. I have to say that I think the crowd was MOST into it last night than any other shows I've seen. My dearest wish is to see them in Europe, so I think that is now my mission in life! Wish me luck. Thanks to everyone there last night with me who made it such an absolutely amazing awesome show!!!

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  38. Catch and Freakshow were cut from encore

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  39. Did anyone near the front notice the Giant Moth that attacked Roger towards the end? Made me think of South Park :-)

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  40. Lmao!!! I saw the moth and said a silent prayer that it would stay the hell away from me! I was truly afraid that it was going to carry Roger off into the night!

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