The Cure, Hammersmith Apollo, 22nd December 2014: Live Review

The Cure returned to London for three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo. Each with a different setlist, but all having 40 songs, 4 encores and 3 hour shows, unbelievable!

The band promised to play for two and a half hours but the show lasted for three hours and fifteen minutes, and covered their whole career in their setlist, ranging from classics such as 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Close to Me', to rarities such as Close to Me B-Side 'Man Inside My Mouth' and 'Like Cockatoos'.

The Band came out to The Top track 'Shake Dog Shake' a furious rendition to the album counterpart, and the first of song from The Top that was played, as the entire album was played in full during the three hour set. The audience were in great spirits too, with dedicated fans singing every word, and even a regular mosh pit throughout. The band did not miss a beat, and every song I could have hoped for was played, except perhaps first single, 'Killing an Arab', and '10.15 Saturday Night', which was sneakily teased by Robert Smith during one of the encores.

The encores were where the band really came to their own, smashing out fan favourites, 'Charlotte Sometimes' and 'Primary' in the first encore, going on to play a Seventeen Seconds selection in the second encore, ending with the brilliant 'A Forest'. A selection from arguably their most popular album Disintegration featured as the third encore, much to the audiences delight. The final encore was a 'Greatest Hit' set with a fun rendition of 'The Lovecats' and 'Close to Me' and closing with a riotous version of 'Hey You!'.

The concert was one of the best I have attended and a real step up from when I last saw them at Reading 2012. Highlights included: Push, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Bananafishbones, The Caterpillar, Three Imaginary Boys, Lovesong, A Forest, Lovecats, Close to Me, Boy's Don't Cry

10/10

Setlist:
Shake Dog Shake
Piggy in the Mirror
A Night Like This
Push
In Between Days
Just Like Heaven
Bananafishbones
The Caterpillar
The Walk
A Man Inside My Mouth
Wailing Wall
Three Imaginary Boys
Never Enough
Wrong Number
Birdmad Girl
Lovesong
Like Cockatoos
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Kyoto Song
alt.end
Want
The Hungry Ghost
One Hundred Years
Give Me It
The Top
----------------------
The Empty World
Charlotte Sometimes
Primary
----------------------
M
Play for Today
A Forest
----------------------
Pictures of You
Lullaby
Fascination Street
----------------------
Dressing Up
The Lovecats
Close to Me
Why Can't I Be You?
Boys Don't Cry
Hey You!