Friday, June 10, 2016

The Cure in Chicago (06-10-16)

June 10th, 2016
UIC Pavilion in Chicago, IL
Sold Out! / Doors at 6:30 PM Central
The Twilight Sad 7:30 - 8:10 / The Cure 8:36 - 11:12
Get there early for The Twilight Sad! They're excellent!

Setlist: Shake Dog Shake, Kyoto Song, A Night Like This, All I Want, Push, Primary, Pictures of You, Like Cockatoos, The Perfect Girl, Screw, The Walk, Charlotte Sometimes, Lovesong, Just Like Heaven, Jupiter Crash, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, One Hundred Years, Give Me It

1st encore: The Top
Note: 1st time 'The Top' has been played in the US in 32 years. Last time was Nov. 17th, 1984 in NYC.

2nd encore: Want, Never Enough, Fascination Street, Burn

3rd encore: The Exploding Boy, In Between Days, Doing the Unstuck, Friday I'm in Love

4th encore: Lullaby, Let's Go to Bed, Close to Me, Why Can't I Be You?, Boys Don't Cry

Thank you, Robert, Simon, Roger, Jason, and Reeves! That was fantastic!

Reviews: 93XRT 

Photos: It's a Perfect Day

Videos: Shake Dog Shake 1 - 2 / Kyoto Song 1 - 2 - 3 / A Night Like This / Push 1 - 2 / PrimaryPictures of You / Like Cockatoos 1 - 2 / The Perfect Girl / Screw / The Walk 1 - 2 / Charlotte Sometimes / Lovesong 1 - 2 / Just Like Heaven 1 - 2 / Jupiter Crash 1 - 2 - 3 / From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea / One Hundred Years 1 - 2 / Give Me It 1 - 2 / The Top 1 - 2 - 3 / Want / Never Enough 1 - 2 / Fascination Street 1 - 2 / Burn / Exploding Boy 1 - 2 - 3 / In Between Days 1 - 2 / Doing the Unstuck 1 - 2 / Friday I'm in Love 1 - 2 / Lullaby / Let's Go to Bed / Close to Me / Why Can't I Be You? / Boys Don't Cry 1 - 2 

Preview articles: Chicago Sun-Times






CoF XX! We made it! 20 full years of this nonsense.

Night 1 of the 2 night CoF 20th Anniversary Party! Really want to thank The Cure and The Twilight Sad for lowering their normal rates, so that I could book them for the party. Very kind of you. :) Here's hoping we get more of a Funeral Party than a dance party. :)

If you have GA floor tickets you will enter at Gate 5 on Congress, if you have reserved tickets you enter at Gate 3 on Racine & Harrison.

If you're still looking for tickets, I will be posting any last minute offers on Twitter (I'm @CraigatCoF) and here (until I head down to the show).

Traffic and Parking info from UIC:

We look forward to seeing you at the concert on June 10/11th. We just want to ensure your trip to the UIC Pavilion is an enjoyable one so please read the below and enjoy the event!

HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND THE UIC PAVILION JUNE 10th & 11th!

STREET CONSTRUCTION
Expect additional traffic delays due to construction on Harrison Street.

ARRIVE EARLY
Doors will open at least one hour prior to show time.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
CTA Train - take the Blue Line train to the Racine Avenue stop, which is about a half a block from the UIC Pavilion.
CTA Buses - take the 7, 8, 60, or 120 bus routes to Harrison Street and Racine Avenue.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From the West - Take I-290 East and exit at Ashland, follow Congress to the parking ramp just east of the UIC Pavilion.
From the North - Take I-94 to the Adams Street exit. Turn South on Halsted Street to Harrison Street. Turn West on Harrison and follow traffic directions to parking.
From the South and Southwest - Take I-94 to the Roosevelt and turn West on Roosevelt Road to Racine Avenue. Head north on Racine Avenue and follow traffic control personnel direction to parking.

PARKING
All parking will be forced in specific directions depending on lane in which cars are exiting.
Please follow the flow of traffic and continue to your destination after you have cleared the immediate area.

For more information, visit us at uicpavilion.com and follow us on twitter for traffic alerts on the day of the event.

88 comments:

  1. amazingly, I was here when COF opened for business, back in 96...WOW! Happy birthday I guess!

    Thanks a million for all your work mate.

    M

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    1. I didn't realize I have spent 20 years following this site!

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    2. Happy birthday COF! Thank you Craig!

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  2. Congratulations, Craig. Thanks for all those years and countless hours of keeping this up. I'm a regular (and that basically means almost daily) reader since 1999 and always enjoyed. Btw: Glad you didn't stop in 1997 upon the release of "Wrong number". :-)

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  3. Nothing about Chicago shows except, enjoy. Does anyone know how we can purchase the two new songs?

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    1. They're not available..the new album is coming soon

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    2. I'm willing to bet the boys in the band use Blizzards definition of "soon."

      http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Soon

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    3. Ha,haI can wait. Happy 20th Chain of Flowers. I hope they play that song tonight.

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  4. good effort craig - great stuff & my first point of call each morning

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  5. Craig

    You are brilliant, and we all love and appreciate your dedication. I too, remember finding out about you during the Swing Tour. And I've bookmarked CoF ever since.

    CONGRATS & THANK YOU

    Steven

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  6. I will be periscoping Saturdays show username Bobus2 this is my first show ever after being a fan since the 80's I've have been a fan of this site for at least 10 years thank you Craig fora all you great work

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    2. ty for advance Bobus, I will follow u !!!

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    3. If this is your first show ever, just enjoy the show, Live! Forget about Periscoping!Be there,in the moment!

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  8. As you know, Craig, I am relatively newer fan, but I too check in on CoF e'ry day! You make us all feel as though we are a part of the excitement for even shows that we cannot attend. That is no easy feat! You are the best! My bucket list includes taking you our for a drink in some town where the boys are playing. Glad we can all spend the rest of this tour together here at CoF! CONGRATULATIONS! I hope Robert dedicates Chain of Flowers to you tonight!:)

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  9. I think band knows about the page so it would be amazing if they play a chain of flowers on both nights.

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  10. Happy Anniversary Craig!!! I agree with Nancy and Simon!

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  11. Ditto to all that Craig. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for building a wonderful family here of which we are all part. And of course Thanks to The Cure.

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  12. Can't believe I've been visiting yourr site for the past twenty years. That's probably longer than anything I've kept up with in my life. THANK YOU Craig!
    Here's hoping that Chicago's shows are extra special for you. I'm excited to be able to go to both.

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  13. Congratulations !! Thank you for keeping this blog going!

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  14. Craig, congrats on having the site going so long. I appreciate all you do in keeping us up to date. Enjoy your evening tonight with the band.

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  15. Congrats, Craig! Been a great 20 years following the site and conversing with you. My tix should be waiting on me at the hotel. Tracking the package all the way to Chicago.

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  16. Congrats, Craig! Been a great 20 years following the site and conversing with you. My tix should be waiting on me at the hotel. Tracking the package all the way to Chicago.

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  17. Since 2002 Craig. Your site is fantastic. Thank u.

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  18. Any info for new album or studio version of 2 new songs?

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    1. If there was any, you'd hear it here.

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    2. you're right Andy. I know I look forward

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  19. CONGRATS!!! TO CRAIG!!! You've done a lot for fans and I would say the band. There are other fan sites, forums, FB pages... BUT NOTHING COMPARES 2 U & CHAIN OF FLOWERS!!!!

    I've must have been following sometime since between Bloodflowers and Self-Titled (2000-2004) were released. Not 20 years but definitely a long time fan of your site and of course The Cure.

    ...and let's not forget my fondness for the COF Countdown Clock! ✨⏰✨ #cofclockfanclub #cofclockcult ✨⏰✨

    #chainofflowersforthecure

    (#hashtag 😝)

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  20. thank you. You deserve more from the band, COF IS the official REAL Cure site. period.

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    1. No doubt. Every tour I've come here first. I've gotten way more info on COF than I ever had on the "official" site. :)

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  21. Thank you Craig! After 20 years...it's never enough!

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  22. Love and hugs to Craig and all the lovely people I have met through this site. CoF XX!

    THANK YOU!

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  23. It feels like...20 years!!

    Congrats Craig, I remember the first time I came to the site around 1997, I heard they were playing in San Jose and was trying to find information. Been coming here for 19 years.

    I hope RS plays "Chain of Flowers" this weekend and dedicates it you - you deserve no less, and if I were RS I would refund every penny you spend traveling and on tickets for this tour.

    Looking forward to another 20 years.

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  24. Lets see them get dark and dirty this weekend... Pornography, Drowning Man, Figurehead... let them out of their cages Bobby!

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  25. Just throwing in another word of encouragement and thanks for Craig.

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  26. Congratulations, Craig! I've said it before, and will say it again - COF is by far the best fan site out there, blowing all others out of the water as far as updates and latest news. I don't recall exactly how I discovered this site (been following COF since about '99 or '00), it was right around the time Google was in its infancy, so it must have been through a Yahoo search of fan sites. It never ceases to blow my mind the level of dedication you've shown over the years. Many other sites have folded over the years, this is one of the few still standing. It truly has stood the test of time. It's easy to take for granted how easily accessible you've made setlists, clips of live shows, etc. Without COF, one would have to go through a tedious search of multiple sites to find up-to-the minute info. on the band. I agree with the above, I really hope that during one of the upcoming shows you'll be attending, the band is able to find some way to express appreciation for your efforts over the years.

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  27. I concur with all previous comments. Thank you doesn't say enough. I'll add my name to the petition to have chain of flowers played and dedicated to you. Please continue for as long as you can. This site means so much to so many. Best wishes and congrats from Ireland.

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  30. Thank you so much Craig for all the joy you give us with COF. I have been following you for years and years from Sweden. Keeping fingers crossed for Chain of Flowers being played tonight!!

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  31. Playing a chain of flowers to celebrate, Craig. Happy anniversary and many, many thanks.

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  32. Are there any bars near the venue to grab a drink or two before heading to the show?

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  33. heard catch through doors for soundcheck.

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    1. Isn't 'Chain of Flowers' the b-side ;)

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    3. may be a kiss me era set, which would be a o k with me. like cockatoos is a great one, how beautiful you are, so many great songs.... and craig, thank you! been following this site since the 90s!

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    4. I was thinking the same thing as Dr. Fishbones. It's a seriously underrated b-side. It also goes hand-in-hand thematically with It Can Never Be The Same.

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    5. may be a kiss me era set, which would be a o k with me. like cockatoos is a great one, how beautiful you are, so many great songs.... and craig, thank you! been following this site since the 90s!

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  34. Thanks for 20 years of outstanding service to Cure fans everywhere! You are the best, Craig! Enjoy the Chicago shows!

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  35. 🍺🍻🍺
    Cheers & Thank You For Your Above & Beyond Work With Chain Of Flowers...

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  36. I was here from the beginning (I think I found out from babble?)and I have said it many times throughout the 20 years and I will keep saying it..Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Craig!!

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  37. Happy Birthday Chain Of Flowers! And Craig's site. I've loved the cure since 1985, and I've loved this site for at least the last ten! Thank you. Onwards.

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  38. I was thinking the COF 20th was not until June 15th? I guess this weekend and the Chicago concerts are close enough for the big celebration.

    Thanks again Craig, for all you do. I probably would have finished my dissertation six months earlier back in the early 2000s if not for COF--but that is not a bad thing. Thanks!

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  39. Thanks so much for what you're doing! Follower of CoF since the Swing tour. Love from Sweden.

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  40. Thanks so much, Craig! Congratulations on 20 years. I've been a silent follower for at least 15, but for this tour, your blog is my browser home page. I can't get enough.

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  41. I've followed COF since its inception, when I was a 14-year-old die hard Cure fan (I think there's a fairly embarrassing review of the 1996 Portland show on the old site somewhere). Thanks so much Craig for keeping it going! Fan sites and forums come and go (and Cure activity comes and goes), but you've been a constant for the Cure community for an insane amount of time. And these days with this amazing tour, I'm checking COF just as much as I did in 1996.

    Here's to another 20?!

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  42. Been reading the site and growing up "Cure" with you all on this since the inception. This is the heartbeat for us fans connecting us diehards and newer fans to one another. Thank you, Craig. Cheers!

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  43. Been reading the site and growing up "Cure" with you all on this since the inception. This is the heartbeat for us fans connecting us diehards and newer fans to one another. Thank you, Craig. Cheers!

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  44. I'm sooooo glad I decided to come. The best one I've seen. And Thank you Robert! It is the first time in 30 years I've finally understood what you said :)
    An amazing show, extra special solos, the return of a faster give me it.
    Extra special for CoF XX!

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  45. AWESOME show! Can't wait to see what tomorrow night brings :)

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  46. Absolutely incredible! So worth the travel. They just keep getting better. Practically in tears the whole time. Can't wait for tomorrow. Is this really happening!? Feels like a dream

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  47. OH MY GOD I saw The Top live in 2016.😮..........Am I dead ?

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  49. Amazing night ! Glad you got to be there Craig ! Happy 20th COF-aversary ! We are lucky to have you !!

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  50. tonight was a gig for the record books!!! when they opened w SDS, i knew it would be special. i just couldnt have dreamt how special it was.

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  51. Nothing after 1996 in this show. Jupiter crash was the newest song!!!!

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    1. Right, but let's face it, 10 fantastic albums until '92, 15 great songs afterwards (of which 50% are from Bloodflowers). But yes, I prefer hearing any of those to the 1000th live rendition of “Lovesong“ or “Pictures of you“.

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  52. Thank You Craig so much for COF from Latvia!

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  53. Craig, Congratulations on your 20 Imaginary Years of COF! Thanks for doing what you do! Hoping for 20 more! Take care dude!

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  54. Jason Cooper is on fire on this tour! Player better and more solid than I've ever heard in 20 freaked years ! I couldn't keep my eyes off him tonight ... All of them on fire . GREAT SHOW

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  56. wtf they played The Top?!? daaaaaang.

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  57. What can the CURE do to "TOP" the last two shows ?
    Still several vintage and rarities that can be pulled out of vault for 2016 ...some suggestions for live debuts
    UNDERNEATH THE STARS
    THE PROMISE
    THE KISS
    10:15 SATURDAY NIGHT
    IT USED TO BE ME
    PLEASE COME COME
    A BOY I NEVER KNEW
    CHAIN OF FLOWERS
    PORNO....
    ANOTHER "New " TRACK

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    1. Excellent list, may I ad TO THE SKY, THE UPSTAIRS ROOM and LAMENT? I wonder if we're going to see LOST/THE PROMISE (or GOING NOWHERE), UNDERNEATH THE STARS/IT'S OVER or THE KISS/FIGHT as Opener/Closer-pairs?

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  58. I can't believe they played the top. I'm still in shock. And like cockatoos the exploding boy holy shit. I have to say this was up there with the two disintegration shows I saw here in 89 thanks robert

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  59. I must admit, I got my hopes up when right before they played The Exploding Boy Robert explained the next song was a b-side to a song they'd play immediately following it. They hadn't played Friday I'm In Love yet so I'm thinking, "OMG they're going to play Halo!", but no. Still fantastic, though!

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    1. I thought the same thing. Hopefully, tonight is the night. Four more shows for that to happen for me.

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  60. An amazing fucking show. I was stunned with so many songs they played last night. I didn't think they'd do Kyoto Song, one of my favorites, and I almost cried - the first time that's ever happened to me at a concert. I was so pleased with the show, they sounded amazing, the setlist was great, and Smith was charming as ever. I can't wait for night two!!

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  61. Sorry, just realized I haven't stopped in to thank everyone for their incredibly kind and supportive comments! Ben swamped with stuff.

    THANK YOU! You are as much a part of this as I am. Can't do it without all of the help and support and love you've given over the last 20 years. Truly a collaborative effort, so thank yourselves, too :)

    Holy hell, though, what a show this was! Can't thank The Cure enough! Night 1 of the party was a huge success! Now let's see what tonight brings!

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  62. My personall Thank You SO Much Craig! I have been a follower since the very beginning when I was still member of the Babble mailing list. It was a great companion[ship] for the sometimes lonely days, when I was doing my PhD in Berlin. All the Best!

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  63. Craig,
    I don't comment on CoF much. But you've been my main source for Cure info for years! THANK YOU!
    As for Friday's show. Epic. Best since 1989 Dodger Stadium, for me. Although it's hard to beat Pixies and Love and Rockets for openers, The Twilight Sad sounded great. SDS, Like Cockatoos, The Top, All I Want, Jupiter Crash... I could go on. Every song moved me in the direction it was meant to. Yay Cure! Yay CoF! Yay us!

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