Wednesday, February 25, 2015
'Close To Me' cover used in Facebook ad
I doubt Robert will be pleased with this. He's repeatedly voiced his dislike of "Spacebook". So, no, I seriously doubt he approved this. Someone remind me again, do artists get any say when ads use cover versions of their songs? (Thanks Darren)
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
New Reeves interview
Great interview with Reeves over at Guitar Moderne. A few of the Cure bits (there's lots more, especially for those interested in all of the gear he's using, so go read it):
"When I joined The Cure, Robert [Smith] knew what he was in for: there was some apprehension that I was going to ruin it. We kept it quiet and didn’t announce it through the first show I did with them. I came in as a guest for the summer of 2012, and then they asked me to join the band after the first seven shows. Their fan base is so huge—their Facebook page has 6.7 million members. There was a chat going on at an unofficial website where I got an 87% approval rating.
I really wanted to do that stuff right. I am not the best parts player, but half the night I have to play what’s on the record—and you can’t play a blues lick if you fuck up, you are either right or wrong. So half the set is playing the correct parts with the right sound, but trying to keep it fresh and let it evolve somehow. About a quarter of the set, is knowing what the chords are, but having room to use different textures from night to night. The last quarter I get to play whatever I want."
"When I started with The Cure, I just brought a bunch of pedals over. I had ten days to learn fifty songs, put a pedal board together and find the sounds. There were two brand new 100-watt Hiwatts and a 120-watt Orange in their storage space, so I ran those through 4x12s, all clean—I did everything with the pedalboard. I used a Blackstone Appliances distortion. For the first time I was getting all my gain through pedals.
We use wedges for monitors and I use Etymotic ER-20 earplugs. I had in-ears through the late ’90s early 2000s but I came into The Cure at the last minute and didn’t want to have to mess with them. Plus I like it because I can move around to adjust my mix. The earplugs cut about 18db, enough to get me through eight-hour rehearsals. The Cure is a hard-working band. We have about 97 active songs. When you do four-hour sets you are going to run through 40 songs. There are some songs that are 15 minutes long but some are two and a half minutes."
And a new project with Jason:
"I just started a thing called High Hat with Gary Husband on keyboards, Jason Cooper from the Cure on drums, Tony Grey on bass, and a trumpet player named Ian Smith, who has the Miles thing and also sounds like he is playing through a ring modulator—but does it with his lip. Right now we are just improvising for four or five hours at a time trying to get the internal vocabulary developed. We might take it out with songs or just keep it improv. I have done things like this with Club D’Elf in Boston and it might be the territory I am most comfortable in, even though I am kind of a rockist at heart."
"When I joined The Cure, Robert [Smith] knew what he was in for: there was some apprehension that I was going to ruin it. We kept it quiet and didn’t announce it through the first show I did with them. I came in as a guest for the summer of 2012, and then they asked me to join the band after the first seven shows. Their fan base is so huge—their Facebook page has 6.7 million members. There was a chat going on at an unofficial website where I got an 87% approval rating.
I really wanted to do that stuff right. I am not the best parts player, but half the night I have to play what’s on the record—and you can’t play a blues lick if you fuck up, you are either right or wrong. So half the set is playing the correct parts with the right sound, but trying to keep it fresh and let it evolve somehow. About a quarter of the set, is knowing what the chords are, but having room to use different textures from night to night. The last quarter I get to play whatever I want."
"When I started with The Cure, I just brought a bunch of pedals over. I had ten days to learn fifty songs, put a pedal board together and find the sounds. There were two brand new 100-watt Hiwatts and a 120-watt Orange in their storage space, so I ran those through 4x12s, all clean—I did everything with the pedalboard. I used a Blackstone Appliances distortion. For the first time I was getting all my gain through pedals.
We use wedges for monitors and I use Etymotic ER-20 earplugs. I had in-ears through the late ’90s early 2000s but I came into The Cure at the last minute and didn’t want to have to mess with them. Plus I like it because I can move around to adjust my mix. The earplugs cut about 18db, enough to get me through eight-hour rehearsals. The Cure is a hard-working band. We have about 97 active songs. When you do four-hour sets you are going to run through 40 songs. There are some songs that are 15 minutes long but some are two and a half minutes."
And a new project with Jason:
"I just started a thing called High Hat with Gary Husband on keyboards, Jason Cooper from the Cure on drums, Tony Grey on bass, and a trumpet player named Ian Smith, who has the Miles thing and also sounds like he is playing through a ring modulator—but does it with his lip. Right now we are just improvising for four or five hours at a time trying to get the internal vocabulary developed. We might take it out with songs or just keep it improv. I have done things like this with Club D’Elf in Boston and it might be the territory I am most comfortable in, even though I am kind of a rockist at heart."
Argentinean Cure Tribute album
"Habla Mi Idioma - Un Tributo a The Cure
(Speak My Language - The Cure Tribute)
This is a new tribute bands compilation from Argentina, available for free download via Bandcamp:
17 tracks from Argentinean bands.
This is a preview on Youtube. This tribute was made from followers of this Facebook fan page."
(Thanks Marina)
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
'Pictures of You (Extended remix)' on new CD
3 Cure songs in SUE's Top 100 Songs of 1980
The Cure placed 3 songs in the Slicing Up Eyeballs Top 100 Songs of 1980 poll. 'A Forest' is # 2, 'Play For Today' #27, and 'M' #89.
Robert on cover of 'Post-Punk 1978-1985'
Roger is giving away old Cure shirts
Roger has a sort of promotion/competition on his Facebook. Do what he says and maybe he'll send you an old Cure shirt from 87-89:
"Look what I found in my cupboard! Amazing Australian artist and mate https://www.facebook.com/
These are all original and classic Cure shirts. I do have some doubles and if you go to Jodee's page and like it and then tell us who her favourite artist is I will send you one..."
"Look what I found in my cupboard! Amazing Australian artist and mate https://www.facebook.com/
These are all original and classic Cure shirts. I do have some doubles and if you go to Jodee's page and like it and then tell us who her favourite artist is I will send you one..."
Cure Tribute event in Japan on April 17th
@CraigatCoF The Cure Tribute Event 'Friday I'm In Love' April.17(fri) 2015 KOENJI HIGH. JAPAN The Cure tunes ONLY! pic.twitter.com/DnupPnnCOa
— Ren (@ren_musubore) February 1, 2015Facebook event page
(Thanks Ren and FifthDream)
Reeves' Top 5 Tips For Guitarists
Nice article on Reeves at Music Radar, and he also offers his top 5 tips for guitarists. (Thanks Olivier)
Robert Smith's Calendar
Robert Smith's calendar. pic.twitter.com/N0q7D3Dfqj
— S J Watson (@SJ_Watson) February 6, 2015'Beautiful Noise' in San Francisco on Feb. 21st
Noise Pop 2015 Film Series
Beautiful Noise (San Francisco premiere)
Roxie Theater
Sat Feb 21 at 9:15PM / $12 // All Ages
There was no machismo, no rockstar posturing, and definitely no gyrating. Save for the occasional tiff they had with pretentious NME journalists, most of the band members were painfully soft-spoken. Geeky, even. Yet the voluminous, woozy sounds of Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine were anything but. For a few short years in the 80s and 90s, the indie music world was struck by a rare moment of introspection that came to an abrupt end with the laddism of Britpop. Diligently tracing the history of a genre that dares not speak its name (shoe-what?), filmmaker Eric Green interviews the mad minds behind the three bands, including the reclusive MBV frontman Kevin Shields. Amongst the support appearances are members from Ride, Slowdive, and Curve as well as keen fans Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan and Robert Smith – the last of whom got married to Cocteau Twin’s “Treasure”. – Sheffield Doc/Fest
Beautiful Noise (San Francisco premiere)
Roxie Theater
Sat Feb 21 at 9:15PM / $12 // All Ages
There was no machismo, no rockstar posturing, and definitely no gyrating. Save for the occasional tiff they had with pretentious NME journalists, most of the band members were painfully soft-spoken. Geeky, even. Yet the voluminous, woozy sounds of Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine were anything but. For a few short years in the 80s and 90s, the indie music world was struck by a rare moment of introspection that came to an abrupt end with the laddism of Britpop. Diligently tracing the history of a genre that dares not speak its name (shoe-what?), filmmaker Eric Green interviews the mad minds behind the three bands, including the reclusive MBV frontman Kevin Shields. Amongst the support appearances are members from Ride, Slowdive, and Curve as well as keen fans Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan and Robert Smith – the last of whom got married to Cocteau Twin’s “Treasure”. – Sheffield Doc/Fest
'One Hundred Years' in London (Multicam)
The Cure - One Hundred Years
(Hammersmith Apollo Dec. 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2014)
Multicam version by Francois
'Piggy in the Mirror' in London (Multicam)
The Cure - Piggy in the Mirror
(Hammersmith Apollo Dec. 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2014)
Multicam version by Francois
'A Forest' #28 on les inRocks Top 100 list
From les inRocks: "Emblematic of the Gothic period The Cure (ranging from Seventeen Seconds to Pornography - dark top ) A Forest demonstrates the formal ambition of the group at that time. Part - mistress of a poorly -kind album and unloved at its output , the title is the quintessential sound of the group of Robert Smith : both tense and melodic , sinister and full of drive , lyrical and minimalist , it only reveals its true secrets that after repeated listening and necessary for the understanding of a universe far richer and complex than it seems." (Thanks @guillaume_g_z)
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
'The Empty World' in London (Multicam)
The Cure - The Empty World
(Hammersmith Apollo Dec. 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2014)
Multicam version by Francois
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Reeves' new album available now
Friday, January 16, 2015
AATT on The Cure & the Christmas shows
Post Punk recently interviewed Simon Jones from And Also The Trees, and he talked a bit about The Cure and the Christmas shows.
Simon: Yes, it was great playing at a really big event like that again and great to see Robert (Smith) and Simon (Gallup) again after all these years. It was an amusing challenge to try and condense 12 albums into a half hour show too. But we love playing live and we feel lucky that with ‘And also the trees’ we get to play a really wide range of venues. We’ve always liked the intimacy of small clubs but it’s nice to be able to play theaters and places like the Hammersmith Apollo too.
As for the tangents in our career and that of The Cure… well I admit it was difficult not to ponder on that once or twice and I suppose the freaky thing is realizing the gulf between their ‘popularity’ and ours. They have six and a half million ‘likes’ on facebook for example and without advertising anywhere can sell out three nights at the Apollo in less than an hour by just announcing it. Impressive. They have written some fine albums and some excellent singles and that once mighty force that was the music industry swept them up and out of sight, almost…. but I don’t reckon that was ever meant to happen to us… it couldn’t have for the simple reason that we’re not much cop at writing singles and Robert is a bit of a genius at it. I never really think about this kind of thing though – I think of them as musicians, like us, like you. When I first started being in the band of course I secretly would have loved to have got on ‘Top of the pops’ and played to stadiums of adoring fans – but I grew out of that quite quickly.
Simon: Yes, it was great playing at a really big event like that again and great to see Robert (Smith) and Simon (Gallup) again after all these years. It was an amusing challenge to try and condense 12 albums into a half hour show too. But we love playing live and we feel lucky that with ‘And also the trees’ we get to play a really wide range of venues. We’ve always liked the intimacy of small clubs but it’s nice to be able to play theaters and places like the Hammersmith Apollo too.
As for the tangents in our career and that of The Cure… well I admit it was difficult not to ponder on that once or twice and I suppose the freaky thing is realizing the gulf between their ‘popularity’ and ours. They have six and a half million ‘likes’ on facebook for example and without advertising anywhere can sell out three nights at the Apollo in less than an hour by just announcing it. Impressive. They have written some fine albums and some excellent singles and that once mighty force that was the music industry swept them up and out of sight, almost…. but I don’t reckon that was ever meant to happen to us… it couldn’t have for the simple reason that we’re not much cop at writing singles and Robert is a bit of a genius at it. I never really think about this kind of thing though – I think of them as musicians, like us, like you. When I first started being in the band of course I secretly would have loved to have got on ‘Top of the pops’ and played to stadiums of adoring fans – but I grew out of that quite quickly.
Roger update
From Roger on Facebook: "In other news... Julia Kent has finished playing her parts for our
new record Love and Other Tragedies. Its now being mixed by the
legendary Paul Corkett. I will master it at the end of January with any
luck and then it goes to the vinyl plant in Germany. Would be nice to
have an April release with shows in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin
and Rome. Anna Dorfman is working on the art and Im doing a photo shoot
tomorrow in Sydney with Romain Duquesne a very talented photographer I
met here. I am very excited about this news as most of you know this
record has been a long time in the making and its completion is totally
amazing.
Its the most moving, emotional music I have ever written and Im looking forward to letting you hear it."
Also, Roger really wants everyone in London to go see Queen Kwong: "Queen Kwong will be playing 4 shows in London between 17th and 23rd of February. She is fucking amazing and Im doing all I can to get the word out. I will be at all the shows and so should you! All the shows are free but you will probably want to buy a t shirt or me a drink or both?"
Its the most moving, emotional music I have ever written and Im looking forward to letting you hear it."
Also, Roger really wants everyone in London to go see Queen Kwong: "Queen Kwong will be playing 4 shows in London between 17th and 23rd of February. She is fucking amazing and Im doing all I can to get the word out. I will be at all the shows and so should you! All the shows are free but you will probably want to buy a t shirt or me a drink or both?"
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Reeves' album release show in Nashville
Jan. 17th, 2015
The Family Wash
Nashville, TN
Reeves Gabrels - guitar/vocals
Kevin Hornback - bass
Jeff Brown - drums
"Digital download available from midnight on saturday jan17th on BANDCAMP. Vinyl in april/may for all you format fetishists."
Reeves at Reverend NAMM show in California
Reverend's Winter NAMM Jam
January 23rd, 2015
7 PM - Midnight
Slidebar Rock & Roll Kitchen
Fullerton, CA
Facebook Event Page
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