Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Cure at United Center • Chicago

Brassneck | June 12, 2023

The Cure

United Center

Chicago, IL

June 10, 2023

Live Review by Ashley Perez Holingsworth; Photos by Curt Baran

Seven years to the date of their 2016 Chicago appearance, The Cure returned for another stunning show in the Windy City. The post-punk elder statesmen delivered a phenomenal 31-song set at United Center filled with classic hits, deep cuts, and new material from their long-awaited album (Songs From a Lost World), proving again why they remain one of alternative music’s best live bands.

The two-and-a-half-hour career-spanning setlist perfectly captured the chameleon nature of The Cure. One minute, things are bleak and gloomy with cuts like “A Forest,” “Plainsong,” and “A Night Like This.” The next, everything is bright, upbeat, and vibrant with hits like “Friday I’m In Love,” “The Walk,” “Lovesong,” and “Just Like Heaven.” Fan favorites like “Lullaby,” “Pictures of You,” “Play for Today,” and “Shake Dog Shake” earned the biggest screams from the crowd, often drowning out the band. And as a reward for (im)patient fans, the band performed new songs “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” “A Fragile Thing,” “Endsong,” “And Nothing Is Forever,” and “It Can Never Be the Same” as a preview of what’s to come. Spoiler alert: it’s deliciously dark.

What makes Cure shows so memorable is their spontaneity with the setlist. Staples like “The Walk” and “Lullaby” will always make an appearance, but the band keeps things fresh with deep cuts and they did not disappoint. Devoted fans were treated to “Like Cockatoos” (played for the first time since 2018) and “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep” from Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, “Want” from cult favorite Bloodflowers, and “Charlotte Sometimes” the gothiest song in their catalog. Their varied setlists are just one reason it pays to see the band multiple times on tour, if you can afford the ticket.

Somehow Robert Smith’s voice is better than ever. It’s so crisp and clear it pierces right through the heart. Close your eyes and you’d swear this is Smith at 30, not Smith at 64. He admitted later to having some vocal strain and did sing some songs in a lower register to make up for it. But no one would’ve guessed if he hadn’t said anything. Whatever vocal issues he was experiencing were surprisingly gone by the end of the night, with fiery performances of “10:15 Saturday Night” and “Killing An Arab.”

The Cure is still a powerhouse 45 years into their career. They deliver unforgettable performances without costumes, choreography, and fancy effects. Rather, it’s the timelessness of the music. They could easily coast on their legacy this far into their career. Instead, they give all their energy and passion to these amazing performances. And they’re hellbent on creating new music, even if Smith is being stingy with the next album.

Best of all, Smith remains humble. Watching him walking across the stage alone, soaking up the cheers, screams, and applause of the crowd, you could see how much it meant to him. He profusely thanked the crowd giving them a big air hug before being enshrouded by darkness once again.