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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
André Paine's rating
Reader rating
Frontman Robert Smith is threatening a double album for The Cure’s next release and this one-off show from the goth-rock veterans was a similar test of endurance: 41 songs, three encores and three and a half hours on stage.
There were some inevitable lulls during their marathon set, but I left with a renewed sense of just how powerful their miserabilist music can be.
At 48, Smith was still immediately recognisable with his shapeless outfit and distressed hair. However, the fortysomething male fans have grown out of any Eighties penchant for black eyeliner and nail varnish.
Smith’s band had a major influence on US alternative rock acts such as Arcade Fire. This was a reminder that no one can top The Cure for gloomy grandeur, though, and guitarist Porl Thompson had an impressive palette of effects, switching from murky rock to melodic pop.
Surprisingly, Smith unveiled only a couple of songs — both decent enough — destined for their 13th album. It made you wonder why The Cure were playing this one-off, their first UK gig in two years. Tax, perhaps, or just studio tedium.
At least it meant we got a generous set with clusters of hits. Pictures of You, described by Smith as a “country and western song to lift the atmosphere”, was followed by the giddy brilliance of Lullaby.
Approaching the halfway mark, Friday I’m In Love and In Between Days got a joyous reaction. But even that was surpassed by the churning post-punk of A Forest, which had the crowd clapping along wildly. After the second encore, including The Lovecats and a strange reworking of Why Can’t I Be You?, Smith looked exhausted.
But he returned for seven more songs including their Camusinspired debut single, Killing An Arab. Thirty years on, The Cure sounded as vital as ever.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I can't imagine anything more tedious than 3.5hrs of the cure and I've played with them! No band is interesting enough to play that long, such self important, pretentious ********.
- Drgonzo, London
I missed the opportunity to play in a cup final to see this but it was well worth it. My best friend is a huge fan and somehow persuaded me to join him at Wembley Arena on Thursday night.
The Cure certainly lived up to all expectations as one of Britain's finest live bands of the last 3 decades. This was a performance of quantity and quality - they put most other bands to shame with a mammoth 40-track 3-hour set.
The only slight criticism which I could level at this performance was the lack of brass or keyboards. Tracks like 'Why Can't I Be You' and 'the Love Cats' sounded shallow and untidy. But, that apart, this was a truly impressive show.
- Nick Craythorne, Burntwood, UK
It wasn't a one-off gig - it was part of a world tour.
- Michael Webb, Newport, Wales
