3:21pm Wednesday 4th March 2009
Established bands such as The Cure and Franz Ferdinand knock spots of new acts Crystal Castles and White Lies at the NME Big Gig, says Jessica Hartley The Cure’s concert at The O2 was a multi-generational affair - its billing as NME’s Big Gig clearly had not put parents off bringing their children.
And if DJ Zane Lowe’s failed attempts to ‘”hear some noise” were anything to go by, it was evident no-one really cared for the corporate billing.
Lauded-darlings of the NME, White Lies opened proceedings – perhaps best described as the sub-Editors.
They were followed by Crystal Castles, about who a nearby voice said: “I liked them more when I couldn’t hear her singing”.
The band’s singer Alice Glass is also the NME’s current coolest person ever, and while the night has been put on to herald The Cure as the rag’s latest Godlike Geniuses, an obvious divide soon becomes clear.
Meanwhile Franz Ferdinand - who are rock's elder statesmen as far as the bands such as The Enemy are concerned - whip through their singles and a selection of tracks from new album, Tonight, entertaining the crowd in a way White Lies and Crystal Castles did not.
This could possibly be down to the old stadium rock trick of playing the songs people know, but it's most likely to be because their set feels like a respite from Crystal Castles who - while noisy and with an entertaining front woman who shines lights into the crowd - are, frankly, just a bit baffling.
For The Cure, it is a chance to play 90 minutes, about half the length of their usual gigs.
The set list, lead singer Robert Smith explains, was drawn from each of their albums leaving those unfamiliar with their oeuvre a little disappointed at the band’s decision not to play their greatest hits from start to finish.
But songs from latest album 4:13 Dream sound as good as those from 10, 20 or even 30 years ago.
This also gave a feeling that The Cure were not betraying any sort of unwritten rock code by accepting such an award and playing such a gig – and indeed it fitted perfectly.
When the hits eventually came, they came thick and fast.
Just Like Heaven, 10:15 Saturday Night and Killing an Arab all received an airing.
Perhaps predictably, the biggest ‘off one’s seat and dancing’ moment was those few iconic opening bars to Boys Don’t Cry.
For The Cure faithful, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/trade_directory/