On June 25th, 2023, legendary British rock band The Cure graced the stage of the iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, to deliver a monumental and unforgettable performance. The sold-out show was a testament to the enduring appeal of the band and their ability to captivate audiences even after decades in the music industry.
As the sun set over the outdoor amphitheater, anticipation and excitement filled the air. Fans from all generations had gathered to witness the timeless music of The Cure, a band known for their unique blend of post-punk, gothic rock, and new wave sounds. The stage was adorned with elaborate lighting and visuals, setting the mood for an immersive and enchanting experience.
As the intro music faded away, frontman Robert Smith, donning his signature disheveled hair and smeared red lipstick, emerged from the shadows, greeted by thunderous applause. For a solid few minutes before the band launched into their setlist, frontman Smith, took in loud applause. He took the stage, stood in one spot looking at the crowd, then walked to the far side of the stage taking in the crowd from there before eventually making his way to the middle of the stage where his microphone was.
The Cure kicked off their setlist with Alone. It was a hot summer night, but that didn’t stop the sold out crowd from swaying back and forth singing word for word each song performed that night. The Cure has a pretty extensive discography under their belts. The band performed a total of fifteen songs in their original setlist. That is not including the two set encores they had (both of the encores consisted of a pretty good handful of songs. One of the longest “encores” I’ve ever encountered. But im not complaining! To ramble off a few songs from the first part of the show consisted of Pictures of You, Lovesong, A Night Like This, Shake Dog Shake and ended the set with Endsong.
The band then went onto performing the first encore which consisted of I Can Never Say Goodbye, Want, Plainsong, Prayers for Rain and ended with Disintegration. Then as the night came winding down The Cure performed a second encore with a total of nine songs- to name a few they consisted of some of the bands most popular hits such as Friday I’m in Live, Close to Me, Just Like Heaven and ended the night with Boys Don’t Cry. Check out the full setlist from The Cure below:
Alone
Pictures of You
A Fragile Thing
Burn
Lovesong
And Nothing Is Forever
The Last Day of Summer
At Night
A Night Like This
Push
Play for Today
A Forest
Shake Dog Shake
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Endsong
Encore:
I Can Never Say Goodbye
Want
Plainsong
Prayers for Rain
Disintegration
Encore 2:
Lullaby
Fascination Street
The Walk
Friday I’m in Love
Close to Me
Why Can’t I Be You?
In Between Days
Just Like Heaven
Boys Don’t Cry