Cure - Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, 9/7/2004

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 24 / 7 / 2004

intro

The concept of the Cure playing a cricket ground as part of the MOVE festival Manchester seemed perhaps too surreal even by their standards. At his first Cure show in two years, long term fan Anthony Strutt, however, finds them as compelling as ever

I love the Cure deeply, but, to be honest, I wasn't sure about this one at all. The Cure playing a cricket ground in Manchester just seemed a bit surreal. It was a long day. I took the day off work, got a train from London at lunch time and there by the time work usually ends. By then was rather excited both by the alcohol and the fact I hadn't seen the Cure for two years. They didnt disappoint me either. They came on at about 8.45 and played until 10.30pm. The set was an excellent balance of new material, and old and true classics. 'Plain Song' from 'Disintegration' opened the set. I had been hoping for 'Lost' , the first track from their new album 'The Cure', which opened their other recent European dates.During 'Plain Song' Robert did his usual festival walkabout, until he returned to the microphone and got down to the business of entertaining us, his flock. He was rather quiet vocally with his audience but the songs more than made up for this. Only six songs from the new record joined the set, but I thought it was a well paced show,. Down the front nobody could move,. Towards the end, I just had to dance so I got out of the mosh pit for my Dance of a Thousand Cure fans . After a mere 105 minutes it was all over. The highlights included 'Just like heaven' and 'A Forest', the ten minute plus 'The Promise', and a blinding 'Strange Day' which segued into 100 years. Just a fabulous day, really. The Cure will hopefully be playing UK dates in September. Set list : Plain Song Shake Dog Shake Labyrinth Fascination Street. Before Three The Edge of the Deep Green Sea The End of the World Love Song In Between Days Just Like Heaven Pictures of You Us or Them, Alt.End, Strange Day, 100 Years Never The Promise, Encore : Play for Today A Forest Boys Don't Cry

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