Experience has taught the Cure how to please crowds

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RATING: * * * *

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by Summer Durham

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Without an opening act to work up the crowd, the Cure walked out fashionably late, first offering "Want" from their newest album, Wild Mood Swings .

Flashing and sparkling all around the band's show was one of the most fantastic light shows in the Summit's recent history. Beams of fuschia, red and canary yellow flickered throughout the two- hour concert, illuminating the crowds as they swayed to the music. The only negative visual aspects of the light show were the images of random objects -- from cells to unidentifiable swirls of color --floating behind the band on a screen that served more as a distraction from the Cure than an accessory.

If you were expecting much body movement from the band's members, you would have been sadly disappointed. The band's body language was relatively stiff (After all, thankfully, the Cure is no C&C Music Factory). However, the light show added enough action to more than make up for it. And the crowd was so pumped by the music that no one seemed to care.

Some of the concertgoers were just as much a part of the show as the concert itself. Lots of fans showed their loyalty by decking themselves out in solid black. Also, Robert Smith look-alikes abounded, sporting ratted do's dyed ebony. As the night passed, more and more devoted followers stood up to dance in their chairs as they sang along or cheered.

The average age of the crowd far exceeded that of the predominantly 13-year-old audiences found at Bush or Smashing Pumpkins concerts. Many in the Summit stadium probably grew up with the Cure, hearing them play from their older siblings' boom boxes.

The mixing was the only negative concerning sound; it was off-balance, poor compared to the rest of the show, but not terrible. Also, Smith was a little hard to understand when he spoke, perhaps due to his thick British accent or his seeming lack of concern for enunciation.

Smith's singing, however, was clear and on key as the Cure managed to cover most of its hits in a set that spanned its lengthy career. They put out a lively version of "Lovesong" and had everybody singing to "Friday, I'm in Love." Also in the play list were "High," "Just Like Heaven" and an encore full of feeling, entitled "Why Can't I Be You?"

Great music. Great lights. And to top it off, Smith -- in keeping with his recent habit of sporting hockey shirts from each of the cities he tours -- wore a Houston Aeros jersey. All in all, the Cure put on an excellent show that left the crowds cheering long after the band exited the stage.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the August 30, 1996 issue.

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