The Cure's 40th Anniversary Show

Made a date with the friends to watch The Cure's concert film 'Anniversary 1978-2018 Live in Hyde Park London' at The Projector. Directed by the band's long-time visual collaborator Tim Pope, this was filmed last year when the band was part of the British Summer Time Festival. Sound was mixed at Abbey Road Studios (but of course) by Paul Corkett and Robert Smith himself.

The film lasted slightly over two hours. This was the band's 40th anniversary show after all. The last time we saw The Cure in Singapore was way back in August 2007. That was a three-hour long gig at the Indoor Stadium! Nights out are rare for us nowadays since we have doggo duties; this film was totally worth it. Frankly, I enjoyed this 'concert' way more than if I had been squished with the crowds at Hyde Park. Hurhurhur. The man was right there last summer. After the show, he had to walk for two hours before he found a bus (every bus route around the Park has been re-directed) to take him back to the hotel.

At Hyde Park's 2018 show, The Cure's encore set took us back to 40 years ago. Wow. I feel old! Dunno about goth rock, but to me, The Cure is classic English rock. Erm, they had a BritPop phase too. I didn't get into them (or many British bands) till university. Since then I never stopped listening to their songs. Robert Smith is the fixture. Drummer Jason Cooper and bassist Simon Gallup are quite steadfast. Keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left and re-joined in 2011. In this current line-up, The Cure ruled Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2019, alongside The Killers, Stormzy and Kylie Minogue. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, wrote in a 1 July review,

It’s been 41 years since they started plying fretful suburban melancholy and rainy Sunday afternoon ennui: the first time they headlined Glastonbury was some years before a considerable portion of this year’s attendees were born. These days, they release albums so infrequently that huge – and incredibly lengthy – live shows are pretty much the band’s raison d’etre. This kind of thing is tried and tested; it’s just what they do.

At 60 years old, Robert Smith is still rocking it. I have no idea how he and the band have the stamina to last through such energy-sapping shows. The band has put out so many wonderful songs and I don't have a favorite. Hearing all of them made it a fantastic night. There's supposed to be a new album coming out at the end of the year. It'll be their 14th album (might be their last), and a loooong eight years after '4:13 Dream' (2008). Can't wait!