Been given a dose of The Cure

What can one say when one's childhood dreams have come to life?


In my case, I took out the 14-hole Docs, wore black nail polish, lipstick, and black eyeshadow, and teased my hair to an untidy mop. I carefully chose my clothing and decided on black tights, black shorts, a black button-down short sleeved military style shirt and a white tie. And of course, I danced and sang like a maniac. Hahaha!


The so-called "Grandfathers of Goth", the masters of all things "doom and gloom", and my most favourite band of all time, The Cure, had a one-night-only-show last night in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena. Arnie, his brother Rey, and I had really good seats that we could clearly see Jason, Simon, Porl, and Robert's features. It was a sea of black, bad hairstyles, and posers (some of the teenyboppers anyway). It was a mixed crowd to say the least but it was the loyal fans (people 30 years and up) that dominated.


What can I say? I was blown away, of course! Here is a band whose music I've grown up with and their songs are a huge part of my life. It was three hours of non-stop Cure goodness. No yucky starter line-ups. It was all Cure and the fans absolutely loved it.


They played the obscure and the popular. I was pleasantly surprised to hear them play "Primary", "One Hundred Years", "Shake Dog Shake", "How Beautiful You Are", and half of the Three Imaginary Boys' album - "Boys Don't Cry", "Three Imaginary Boys", "Jumping Someone Else's Train", "Grinding Halt", and "Killing An Arab", which of course Robert had to change to "Killing Another" due to the current political climate.


Of course, they played the show stoppers - "Inbetween Days", "Close To Me", "Why Can't I Be You?", "Lullaby", "Friday I'm In Love", "A Night Like This", and of course, Arnie and I's theme song, "Lovesong" - I have to admit that I was teary eyed when they played it.


They also played heaps of tracks from the Kiss Me album. Kinda says something about Robert's current mood I guess.


I just love Robert Smith to bits. He looks like an adorable overgrown rag doll. He's so gorgeous!


I am so happy to have been able to attend such an extraordinary event. I don't know when this will happen again, but it is definitely a night to remember!


Most notable moments?

• When they played "Primary", I noticed that Simon Gallup's current hairstyle resembles his hairstyle in this song's music video. That's going back 26 years ago!!!
• Robert Smith is so cute doing his signature "mini-jig" ala "Lovecats"
• They did not play "A Forest"! ARGH!!!
• Porl looks like Billy Corgan... hmmm...
• Robert looked at me when he looked at our direction! I was waving my arms around like a mad-woman! Hahaha!
  

Gandalf as the Mad King

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of watching the Royal Shakespeare Company's performance of "The Tragedy of King Lear", played by no one else but by the great "Gandalf", "Sir Teabing", and "Magneto", Sir Ian McKellen.




Sir Ian McKellen as King Lear

For theatre and Shakespeare lovers, King Lear is a role that one would describe as the "Mount Everest" for any Shakespearean actor. They basically say that "if you're old enough to play King Lear, then you're too old to play King Lear". It is a role known to be emotionally and physically challenging. Sir Ian delivered, and more.



Sir Ian McKellen with Sylvester McCoy as The Fool


He took his kit off... naked as the day the Maker made him and might I add, not bad for an old gay man!


But I digress.


He is truly the greatest stage performer of his time. His stage presence, his command and ease of Shakespearean English, and his ownership of the part of Lear just proves his magnificent talent.




A fallen King Lear with The Earl of Gloucester, played by William Gaunt


Jonathan Hyde (you'll probably remember him as Richie Rich's butler and Robin Williams' greatest fear in Jumanji) was a fantastic Earl of Kent. Sylvester McCoy who played King Lear's Fool was a joy to watch as well. Frances Barber who played the evil eldest daughter Goneril was so effective is her role that I literally wanted to strangle her.


It was truly a night to remember. Seeing Sir Ian perform in all his excellent theatrical glory is something that I will truly take with me till death. He made me cry. He made me sympathise with an old, proud, foolish man who not only lost his kingdom but also lost his whole family, especially his dearest daughter Cordelia.


Howl, Howl, Howl...


Found this sample in YouTube. This is a scene between King Lear and The Fool. Enjoy!






O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven,
Keep me in temper: I would not be mad.
- King Lear, Act I Scene V

Psychedelic flashback

Got inspired by Vayie's post about MTV...


Do you guys remember this song?





Don't you just love it?


How about this one?





And who can possibly forget this one?





Psychedelic Furs is one of those bands that a Filipino growing up during that incomparable era (the 80s of course) will possibly first mention when asked about new wave music. They first emerged as a post-punk band but ended up making albums with a more "pop-bent" to it with biting vocals and fantastic droning guitar work.

Hope you enjoyed that short blast from the past and who knows? I might find some other gems...