The Cure @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Coast Observer
New Orleans, LA
By: Cheli Strumila
Photography: Canonblue Lalley
It's Just Like Heaven when I see Pictures of You & hear our Love Song down on Fascination Street because everyone knows Friday I'm in Love and Boys Don’t Cry!!....
I've been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost believe that they're real
I've been living so long with my pictures of you
That I almost believe that the pictures
Are all I can feel.
Just as their lyrics began in one of their most beautiful hits, Pictures of You, I too thought I would be left to my memories of a dreamy time in my life when our generation was searching to find our own sound, look, and leave our mark on the music scene that was nothing like the generations before! Proud to be one of the original Club Kids of the 80’s at the infamous Starck Club in Dallas, The Cure would play a huge role in the shaping of my musical appreciation not to mention the fashion that could be seen not only on club goers, but all across the world. As the decades to follow have come and gone and added to it a lot of bass, rap, and cookie cutter pop, my heart has yearned to once again hear the melodic beauty of the sounds that changed a generation and would influence the music scene for generations to come.
Having loved The Cure since the 80’s, I never thought in my lifetime that I would have the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful, talented group of musicians that had ever Topped the Charts again. It was so ironic that just months before the announcement of their 2016 tour, I had actually been searching the internet to see what had become of Robert Smith. We hadn’t heard anything since the 90’s. Yet we have been having so many Starck Club Reunions to bring us all back together again to a time so many of us will forever cherish that a fire in our heart still burned and yearned for the sound that shaped our generation!!
Remembering you how you used to be
Slow drowned
You were angels
So much more than everything
As facebook blew up with the announcement of The Cure’s 2016 Tour, my heart seemed to beam just knowing that I would once again get to see one of my favorite bands of all time. Having covered and attended so many concerts in the decades since and knowing that with age sometimes the sound changes as the voices get a bit more raspy, the cords seem to not be as sharp as they once were, I thought to myself what would this experience be, would I still be in awe of them as I once was?
Then I started to have a conversation with a friend of mine in his 30’s who seemed to not even know The Cure’s music other than the remake of their Love Song by current band 311. I was heartbroken. How could he not know the talents of this phenomenal band, and then it hit me…just as our generation was searching for our sound and really not wanting anything to do with the sounds of our parents while we were young (we would grow to love and appreciate our parents music as we grew older) this is just a natural transition of generations to find their voice and mark in this world. But what an epiphany I would have on the drive to the concert with my friend and her 17 year old daughter and her 18 year old friend. It turned out the 18 year old friend was actually the one that purchased the 3 tickets for them as he had grown up with his mother listening to The Cure and had become a huge fan since he was young. So maybe just maybe the love and appreciation of true talent skips a generation I thought to myself. And wouldn’t you know it, the crowd at UNO Lakefront arena confirmed just that!! A mixture of late teens & 20’s, some 30’s and many late 40’s & 50+’s would be entangled together in one of the most Incredible Musical Experiences we’ve had in decades!!
There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to feel you deep in my heart
As I sit here writing this, I still get chills remembering back to the moment The Cure took the stage and began to remind us why they willForever be Legends and Timeless in the music scene and our hearts!!! Not only did the concert far exceed our expectations with an incredible stage presence and digital journey, but their sound had been frozen in time and we were once again whisked away to a time of true talent, beautiful melodies, and the timeless voice of Robert Smith enchanting us with the deep heartfelt lyrics that we all yearn for!!
“I was in a trance with the beauty of how wonderful they sounded. You don't need videos or too many visuals, really, when the songs go through you like theirs do” - Amy Beaugez of New Orleans, LA
“It was E P I C. Robert Smith must have made a deal with the devil because his voice sounded as good if not better than I remember.” – Jason Rosetti of Gulfport, MS
“From the Kaleidoscopic swirls of colors bouncing off the walls of the UNO Lake Front Arena, to Robert Smith's crisp vocals and perfect lyrics, The Cure Is Just Like Heaven.” – Celeste Randall of Biloxi, MS
After 29 Songs and 5 Encores, mixed with all our favorites and some new ones for us to fall in love with, The Cure once again cemented their place in music history and have proven once again why they will Forever be Timeless!!
"Truly one for the ages. Can't believe how awesome they were. 29 songs & 5 encores. Fascination Street indeed Mr Smith."- Bryan Bounds of Biloxi, MS
To all generations of today, don’t wait till you’re older to appreciate truly great music, and Don’t get so caught up in the pop of today that the radio stations are forcing on you or become such a generation music snob, or music snob in general, that you miss out on some of the Most Talented Incredible Music you will ever experience. I think I am truly blessed to have an appreciation and love of all music!! No matter which generation you are a part of, you owe it to your heart, soul, and love of music to add The Cure to your song list.
There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to never feel the breaking apart
All my pictures of you
