The anticipation for the grand finale of Riot Fest 2023 had been building throughout the day. Bands from Cults to The Dresden Dolls were thrilled to be on stage with The Cure at all. Festival-goers wore T-shirts from all eras of the legendary British dark rockers – including the special design that was only sold for Sunday’s event.
The rain stayed away during the two and a half hour set (although a shower or two would have been a total blast). And when it came time for the gothic heroes to play the first notes, they unsurprisingly did not disappoint with a marathon performance that deserves the title of the best headlining set in Chicago’s summer festival season comes to a glorious conclusion.
The Cure singer Robert Smith takes the stage for the final performance of Riot Fest 2023. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
The Cure performs on the Riot Stage during day three of Riot Fest in Douglass Park. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Guitarist Reeves Gabrels performs with The Cure on day three of Riot Fest. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Robert Smith appeared to be in good spirits during The Cure’s final set at Riot Fest in Douglass Park. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Robert Smith sings during The Cure’s Riot Fest on Sunday at Douglass Park. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Bassist Simon Gallup performs during The Cure’s set on day three of Riot Fest. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Guitarist Reeves Gabrels performs with The Cure on day three of Riot Fest. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Robert Smith wears an Amy Winehouse t-shirt during The Cure’s performance at Riot Fest on Sunday. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Bassist Simon Gallup plays during The Cure’s set on day three of Riot Fest. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
Guitarists Perry Bamonte and Reeves Gabrels support Robert Smith at Riot Fest on Sunday. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun Times
“Hello…again,” Robert Smith, wearing an Amy Winehouse T-shirt, cheekily addressed the crowd after the band played through “Alone.” Just three months ago, the six-piece band was in Chicago and played an epic 31-song, three-hour-plus set at the United Center – no one minded the repetition.
The musicianship of Smith, bassist Simon Gallup, keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, guitarists Perry Bamonte and Reeves Gabrels, and drummer Jason Cooper is unparalleled and is best appreciated in the latest concert experience. Together they create a symphony for celebratory occasions and awaken a wealth of memories and emotions that fans pack with them like luggage for the evening.
The 45 year young band heightens the emotions, not only the dark cloud of heartbreak that the band often conjures, but also a total celebration of reciprocated love. The Cure is the master of puppets who touches everyone’s heart palpitations.
From the crowd favorite “Burn” (known from the 1994 soundtrack of “The Crow”) to “Fascination Street” to other hits like “Lovesong”, “Close yo Me” and “Just Like Heaven” and sonic turns like z like “A Forest” and The Cure were instrumental perfection and perhaps the loudest set of the weekend. Whether this was due to the acoustics or the fact that the attentive listeners held their breath and kept the park silent is debatable.
Smith had fun too – he made faces at the camera, cracked a few smiles and used his full vocal range.
As with other shows on the tour, where The Cure fought for fans by refunding ticket fees and keeping merch costs low, the musicians at Riot Fest did what they could; The special edition t-shirts were only $25 and there’s no doubt they sold heavily as a souvenir of the evening.