Why the Cure's marathon gigs ARE the best way to play

Started by dsanchez, April 02, 2014, 11:01:27

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dsanchez

What would you say in response to The Guardian's reviewer who insists that The Cure should play shorter shows?

Below is Robert's response (from The Cure's Facebook page):

QuoteLAZY NONSENSICAL CONTENT ASIDE; WE WERE DRIVEN TO REACT TO CAROLINE SULLIVAN'S 'REVIEW' BY THE BLATANT DISHONESTY OF HER ACCOMPANYING COMMENT

"I have it on good authority that the band have read the review and liked it." IT WAS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO IGNORE...

HAVING EXPOSED THE LIE, WE FIGURED WE WOULD AT THE VERY LEAST GET SOME KIND OF A HANDS IN THE AIR "IT'S A FAIR COP GUV" FROM HER FOR ATTEMPTING SUCH A BANAL SELF SERVING DECEPTION... WE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT EVEN BE A FAINT CHANCE THAT SHE WOULD BE MOVED TO APOLOGISE TO HER READERS FOR MAKING STUFF UP!

BUT AS COMMENT BY COMMENT SHE DIGS HER EVASIVE HOLE A LITTLE DEEPER, IT WOULD SEEM WE HOPED FOR TOO MUCH...

A SHAME. WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE GUARDIAN AND ITS JOURNALISTS VALUED TRUTH?

"OK, Robert. Buy you a drink?"... gulp!!!

HONESTLY? ummm... WE WOULD PREFER YOU JUST REVIEWED WITH A TAD MORE UNDERSTANDING AND HONESTY AND CONSIDERING LINES LIKE "Not as scary [...] as Robert Smith in full fig" MAYBE THREW A FEW LESS STONES? OR MOVED OUT OF YOUR GLASS HOUSE?!!

"Rock is about grabbing people's attention." REALLY? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO 'BE ABOUT'? YOU THINK THAT'S IT? IT WOULD EXPLAIN A LOT

WE WILL NOW DRAW A LINE UNDER THE 'SAD BITTER JUNK REVIEW' EPISODE, AND SLIP BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD WITH A SHAKE OF THE HEAD AND A SMILE...

PREFERRING THE OLD GOTH DISNEY DICTUM TO ROCKER SIMMONS';

"WE ARE NOT TRYING TO ENTERTAIN THE CRITICS; WE'LL TAKE OUR CHANCES WITH THE PUBLIC"
2023.11.22 Lima
2023.11.27 Montevideo

dsanchez

I would say: The reviewer forgets The Cure is a band that has fans all around the world (just in the lunch meeting we organised before the show, we had people who traveled from countries such as Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary and France) Does the journalist really believe that we would be satisfied travelling thousands of kms just to see a 90 minutes show?
2023.11.22 Lima
2023.11.27 Montevideo

In Sequence

Personally I could live without hearing the newer songs.... the songs I love are either on Disintegration or older.  :smth020

I'll probably get killed for saying this on here but I don't think they've recorded any real classics since then and the last couple of albums are not something I ever listen to - whereas I go back to everything else pre 1989 very regularly and I am in fact probably "clinically obsessed" with THE trilogy of 17 Seconds/Faith/Pornography. And I really do not enjoy the live versions of some of the classic poppier singles (for example Lovecats, Close to Me, Why Can't I be You, although The Walk was great on Saturday)

Sometimes less is more!

japanesebaby

my impression: a lazy journalist who didn't do her any homework!
the idea that some sort of standardized duration of a set/standardized number of songs played should exist and it applies to all performing artists/bands is just ridiculous. it's as ridiculous as to suggest that every song should be 3 minutes and that's it. besides what about other artists who play long sets? like bruce springsteen etc. it is in some artists art to play 3+ hours - or not to play at all. if someone (critic or not) doesn't like it, then it's his/her problem, and not a "fault" in the artist. the critic should do his/her homework(!!) and understand the reasons behind why this band plays long sets. otherwise she just displays her own unprofessionality.

if i go to concert to see a band i don't like and i get bored, it's not the band's fault. causality is wrong there. would be the same for critic - besides a critic should be professional and not let his/her likes or dislikes interfere in the work of reporting the event. if he/she can't do it objectively, he/she is doing something wrong there.

besides no artist ever became an artist just in order to please critics (or if someone did then they chose the wrong profession!), so critics can't define artists or tell them what to do by categorizing them (even though they always try very hard, yes....)
Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veil'd Melancholy has her sovran shrine

revolt_again

Quote from: dsanchez on April 02, 2014, 11:01:40
I would say: The reviewer forgets The Cure is a band that has fans all around the world (just in the lunch meeting we organised before the show, we had people who traveled from countries such as Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary and France) Does the journalist really believe that we would be satisfied travelling thousands of kms just to see a 90 minutes show?

The more they play the better! Like Robert said, when you're a fan of a band you don't really want their show to end. So, if they're up to it, (most) fans are up to it as well...

revolt_again

Quote from: In Sequence on April 02, 2014, 11:36:03
Personally I could live without hearing the newer songs.... the songs I love are either on Disintegration or older.  :smth020

I'll probably get killed for saying this on here but I don't think they've recorded any real classics since then

No classic albums, maybe. But classic songs, there are many! Here's an incomplete list:


The Big Hand
This Twilight Garden
Open
Apart
Trust
From the Edge of the Green Deep Sea
A Letter to Elise
End
Burn
Want
This is a Lie
Jupiter Crash
Ocean
Lost
The Last Day of Summer
Lost
Labyrinth
Anniversary
The Promise
The Scream

revolt_again

Quote from: japanesebaby on April 02, 2014, 11:55:08
besides a critic should be professional and not let his/her likes or dislikes interfere in the work of reporting the event. if he/she can't do it objectively, he/she is doing something wrong there.

Well, I think complete objectivity is kind of impossible. The critic should be able to report that the audience has enjoyed the show, which songs seemed to get the best response, yes... But the other part of the review is supposed to focus on what the critic's personal opinions of the show were, I think. Likes and dislikes are unavoidable, no?

dsanchez

Quote from: In Sequence on April 02, 2014, 11:36:03
Personally I could live without hearing the newer songs.... the songs I love are either on Disintegration or older.  :smth020 Sometimes less is more!

you're missing the point of this question and anyway, reading your answer, I suppose you wouldn't mind a long set (which is exactly what the journalist does not like) of the band playing 17 Seconds/Faith/Pornography/Disintegration etc.
2023.11.22 Lima
2023.11.27 Montevideo

Secrets

Quote from: revolt_again on April 02, 2014, 12:03:47

No classic albums, maybe. But classic songs, there are many! Here's an incomplete list:


The Big Hand
This Twilight Garden
Open
Apart
Trust
From the Edge of the Green Deep Sea
A Letter to Elise
End
Burn
Want
This is a Lie
Jupiter Crash
Ocean
Lost
The Last Day of Summer
Lost
Labyrinth
Anniversary
The Promise
The Scream

I think we have to be respectful and understand any list is always quite subjective for each person.  There are some songs on that list that I think are fantastic, others I think are complete dogs (at least half on that list).  Perhaps that's why a 45+ song setlist, covering such a long span is necessary :->


In Sequence

OK, I guess the reviewer was unhappy with the length of the gig, not the content of the gig, which is more my point. If they do another Trilogy/Reflections gig, as they said they will, then I will definitely be there but I will think twice about going to a regular gig cos I just don't really like half the songs. I though the RAH gig was perfect until the end of Inbetween Days and then, for me, it was very patchy.

gnichols

Is this a joke? What a delicious, special, treasure treat for any true Cure fan to spend 3+ hrs with them!  :smth060   I didn't see anyone leaving before the very last song, and would've happily stayed for even longer, myself! Friday's show seemed more like 1 hour than 3 ½......was amazing!  I'm most grateful for the time they spent just sharing their music with us, no frills or silly gimmicks. They knew what we came for, they were there for us, and clearly don't have to try to please miserable critics to sell out shows.  If you don't know, like, or want to hear all of their songs, you probably shouldn't be there. 

x-phile

I think this is quite simple...
When you really like something, time flies, you allways want more and more... never is enough
When you don't like, time is slower, everything is boring and always too long...
I'm very happy that The Cure play 3 hours shows... and more... and more... and I think no Cure fan wants shorter shows
Take cure

revolt_again

Quote from: Secrets on April 02, 2014, 12:20:38
Quote from: revolt_again on April 02, 2014, 12:03:47

No classic albums, maybe. But classic songs, there are many! Here's an incomplete list:


The Big Hand
This Twilight Garden
Open
Apart
Trust
From the Edge of the Green Deep Sea
A Letter to Elise
End
Burn
Want
This is a Lie
Jupiter Crash
Ocean
Lost
The Last Day of Summer
Lost
Labyrinth
Anniversary
The Promise
The Scream

I think we have to be respectful and understand any list is always quite subjective for each person.  There are some songs on that list that I think are fantastic, others I think are complete dogs (at least half on that list).  Perhaps that's why a 45+ song setlist, covering such a long span is necessary :->

Just for curiosity's sake, which songs on that list are complete 'dogs' in your opinion?

In Sequence

Well, i have to agree that there are no classics there -and for starters, off the top of my head, Labyrinth isn't all that great.

This kind of statement may be heresy on a Cure Fans message board -- but the songs that I do love by the Cure I love very very profoundly!

Just because The Cure recorded and released a song, it doesn't mean that I will automatically and unconditionally love it....

MeltingMan

For me personal I can go without the so-called "Greatest Hits" and songs from "Disintegration".
They had been played too often and I can't hear it anymore.SORRY.
En cette nation [Russie] qui n'a pas eu de théoriciens et de démagogues,
les pires ferments de destruction ont apparu. (J. Péladan)