The Cure brought an energetic performance to Øyafestivalen in Oslo, Norway, with frontman Robert Smith displaying a noticeably uplifted demeanor throughout the headlining set. Opening with an extended atmospheric introduction to “Alone” from their 2024 album “Songs of a Lost World,” Smith greeted the audience with a broad smile and clasped hands, a marked contrast to previous tour appearances marked by introspection about aging and mortality.
The two-and-a-half-hour performance showcased Smith’s characteristic whimsical stage presence alongside the band’s precise musicianship. The setlist balanced familiar classics including “Pictures of You,” “Lovesong,” and “Just Like Heaven” with deeper cuts such as “Alt.End” and “The Last Day of Summer.” Notably, Smith became visibly emotional during “Just Like Heaven,” pausing afterward to acknowledge the song’s impact before continuing the show.
Throughout the evening, Smith’s vocal performance remained remarkably consistent with his earlier work, while bassist Simon Gallup, keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, drummer Jason Cooper, and guitarist Reeves Gabrels demonstrated their tightness as a unit. The band strategically incorporated two additional tracks from their latest album, with “Endsong” seamlessly fitting among the established catalog and demonstrating the new record’s cohesion with their broader body of work.
A robust 10-track encore rounded out the set, with Smith fully embracing playful theatricality during performances like “Lullaby” and “The Lovecats,” solidifying what appeared to be a thoroughly satisfying evening for both performer and audience.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
