Boys Don't Cry

Have you ever been to a concert with four encores? We have now. And, if you saw The Cure at the Hollywood Bowl last night, you did, too, even if you may have had to pay through the nose for parking.

We chose the cheap food option at the Bowl and ate like Hollywood peasants.





Our seats were pretty decent, though.


These were all the people behind us.

The opening band didn't sing at all. They just jammed. I was too busy stuffing my face with peasant food to remember their name.

I've seen The Cure a number of occasions, but it's been awhile. I think the last time I saw Robert Smith and his crazy hair, ghostly makeup, and red lipstick was in Boston the summer of 1995. Even then, he'd already gained a bit of weight.

But last night he was even more portly. I dare say he was almost jolly, kind of like a goth Santa Claus. Goth Santa Claus! It makes no sense at all.

But a jolly Robert Smith yields treats for fans like me, i.e., fans who enjoy songs by The Cure in major key. I present to you the three-hour setlist:

(1) Underneath the Stars (new -- the next album is out in September)
(2) Prayers for Rain
(3) A Night Like This
(4) The Walk
(5) The End of the World
(6) Lovesong [clip below]



(7) Sleep When I’m Dead (new)
(8) To Wish Impossible Things
(9) Pictures of You [clip below]



(10) Lullaby
(11) From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
(12) The Perfect Boy (new)
(13) Hot! Hot! Hot!
(14) The Only One (new -- I like this one a lot)
(15) Push

And these next songs were the best and cheeriest group in a row! My fave!

(16) Friday I’m in Love [clip below]



(17) Inbetween Days [clip below]



(18) Just Like Heaven [clip below]



(19) A Letter to Elise

Thank you, Goth Santa Claus!

(20) Never Enough
(21) Wrong Number
(22) One Hundred Years
(23) Baby Rag Dog Book (new)

Encore #1
(24) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
(25) The Kiss

Encore #2
(26) At Night
(27) M
(28) Play for Today
(29) A Forest

Encore #3 (hands down the best encore to me)
(30) The Lovecats
(31) Let’s Go to Bed [clip below]



(32) Freakshow (new)
(33) Close to Me
(34) Why Can’t I Be You? [clip below]




I had been waiting and waiting and waiting for "Boys Don't Cry." I turned to Mr. Monkey during every encore and said, "When are they going to play 'Boys Don't Cry'? They have to play it!" After the third encore, Mr. Monkey said I might not get my wish.

Encore #4
(35) Boys Don’t Cry [clip below]



I knew they would play it! Too bad my camera wasn't as patient as I'd been. It didn't have enough juice and recorded the above fuzz. And then it died right at the end of the song.