Two Mondays ago saw us catch the Airport Express to the Asia World Expo Arena. It’s the equivalent of the Sydney Entertainment Centre combined with the Convention Halls at Darling Harbour holding concerts as well as pet expos and the like.

We were on our way to our first HK concert – The Cure. In true HK fashion, the trip was quiet and in spite of the train being packed, everyone filed out in an orderly fashion into the Expo Arena forecourt.

Mostly gweilos still dressed in their work gear with a few hard-core fans that had Robert Smith-ed their hair and faces gathered around the bar areas for a quick drink and a bit to eat before entering the Concert Hall.

Five minutes to eight and an announcement instructs us to go inside as the concert was due to begin. We entered the area to find the stage pushed forward allowing for about 7,000 people. Mr Shallot and I had bought our tickets the day they went on sale so we could be in the Standing Room area near the stage. We were concerned the concert would sell out so were surprised that we could log in very easily to buy the tickets (unlike our Ticketek experiences).

We entered to find about 50 other people inside. We knew more people would be coming but couldn’t see how the whole area would be filled. We began to feel a bit sorry for The Cure then, having gone from being a mega-band playing massive crowds to a tiny audience spread out in a huge hall. Intimate crowd but not so intimate venue. At least we would be able to see them clearly and not have to jostle for a better position.

Eight o’clock and people are still filing in as the lights go down, the smoke machine revs up and the roadies leave the stage. Enter the boys (old men – given the band itself has been around since the 70s in one form or another), looking straight out of the 80s with a bit of extra weight thrown in. Robert Smith looks identical except for an extra chin and an expanded waistline. Same hair, same makeup.

Between the three with hair, they have used enough hairspray that I can smell it from where I’m standing. The other head was buffed and polished. Hairstyles still out of the 80s – can a mullet every look good? And then they began.

I understand now why Robert (I can call him by his first name because I was close to him during the concert and I’m sure a few times he was singing right to me) wears dark eye-shadow – very expressive effect. The whole band looked like they were really enjoying themselves and played up to the ever expanding crowd. About four songs in, the place was packed.

They played most of their hits for over three hours and had two encores (impressive for a 48 year old lead singer!). They were brilliant. Lots of energy, cheekiness and just good fun. I had the impression that they weren’t taking themselves too seriously and every now and then, they seemed to even have a good laugh at the whole thing. It’s great to watch a band that is just enjoying playing together and really getting into it. Reminds me a bit of a Spiderbait concert.

My only disappointment – no Lovecats.

* Thanks to The Cure for the title to this post as well as a great concert.