Live Review: The Cure with The Twilight Sad at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, 6/27/23

The Cure formed 45 years ago in Crawley, West Sussex, England. Robert Smith, the only full time member from the beginning, has been the glue keeping the band together. He was an on-and-off again guitarist for Siouxsie and the Banshees from ’79-’84 but The Cure’s popularity would soon skyrocket. The mid-80s were good to The Cure, with The Head on the Door, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, and finally the big one: Distintegration.

The fact that they haven’t released a studio album for 15 years (2008’s 4:13 Dream) has not dissuaded fans from keeping The Cure at the top of must-see lists. Their Shows of a Lost World Tour in America is winding down and it’s been reported it will be the most profitable tour of their career. Onto Europe.

The current tour’s set list has consistently been bookended with new tracks “Alone” and “Endsong” (before the typical double encores). The feel and personality of these tunes may be reminiscent of something off Disintegration. Smith’s promise of a Songs of a Lost World album did not come to fruition before the beginning of the world tour in October. We’re hoping to get that one soon. In total, five new songs were played. On “Alone,” Smith sings, “This is the end of every song that we sing / The fire burned out to ash and the stars grown dim with tears.” The companion piece “Endsong” is none happier, “It’s all gone, it’s all gone, it’s all gone / No hopes, no dreams, no world.” News flash: Robert Smith is not responsible for your happiness, but this evening was still a celebration. Once the new tune opened the show, it was a menagerie of Cure hits as well as deeper cuts for the hardcore fanbase.

The first night of two sold out shows was filled with lifetime fans, generations of families, and enough black to crash Beethoven’s funeral. Smith has become more chatty and frequently spoke to the audience between songs. While acoustics in the State Farm Arena are fine, his words were sometimes lost in echos. He frequently expressed joyful emotions, putting his had to his heart with gratitude.

The band was perfection and Smith’s voice remains strong. At 64, he can still pelt it out with the best of them. The two hours and a half, 29-song show is common for a Cure concert. No resting on their laurels, the band leaves it all on the stage with singing fans always wanting more. This one struck different, though, as a more emotional Robert Smith even got choked up at the end, expressing genuine gratitude to fans. Will this be the end?

Along with the five new tunes, the band performed five from The Head on the Door, my first and fave Cure album from 1985. Songs from 16 Cure albums were performed, giving each generation something to grab onto. Highlights of the evening included “Pictures of You,” “A Night Like This,” “Push,” “A Forest,” and “In Between Days.” Of course, each fan has their own set of favorites.

Longtime openers The Twilight Sad did that thing they do. Hailing from Kilsyth, Scotland, the post-punk quintet held the room in awe, with terrific responses from the crowd. With five studio albums on their resume beginning in 2007 until their last release in 2019 It Won/t Be Like This All the Time, the Sad played well to an audience mainly present to see The Cure, but their music translated well. Lead singer James Graham’s rich Scottish brogue was an added bonus on familiar tunes such as “There’s a Girl in the Corner” and “VTr.” Check out news and tour info at their website, and name your price on excellent live recordings from their tour with The Cure on Bandcamp.

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