Few groups have left a mark on alternative culture quite like The Cure. With a ridiculous string of classic albums, often-imitated aesthetic and amazing track record of navigating superstardom on their own terms, the band has cemented its legacy as one of music’s most impressive success stories. It’s no surprise that this year’s Shows of a Lost World Tour was one of the summer’s hottest tickets – despite the fact that it’s been fifteen years since their last album.
While there’s no shortage of bands that cite them as an influence (Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins and My Chemical Romance for starters), we’re looking at some of the artists on this year’s Riot Fest lineup who share a musical DNA with The Cure. In a few cases, they’re actually some of Robert Smith’s favorite bands and former tourmates!
But why just tell you about it when we could show you, show you, show you?
Tegan and Sara
For whichever era of The Cure is your favorite, we’ve got Tegan and Sara tracks to recommend. (And, not just because they quite literally have a song called “The Cure.”) The Con is perfect if you’re craving doom and gloom, and its title track does sound a lot like “Push” from The Head on the Door. If you find yourself gravitating towards the quirky, effervescent pop of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me or non-album singles like “The Walk” and “Let’s Go To Bed,” then you need to check out 2013’s Heartthrob. Loaded with anthemic choruses and bombastic synths, it’s a true spiritual successor to Robert Smith’s mid-80s assault on Top 40 radio.
Check Out: “The Con,” “So Jealous,” “Drove Me Wild”
Ride
The mutual admiration between Ride and The Cure goes back decades. Most notably, Robert Smith did a remix of “Vapour Trail” for the 25th anniversary reissue of their seminal debut album, Nowhere, back in 2015. He’s long cited it as one of his favorite songs, even going as far as saying it’s got one of “best fifteen-second intros of all time.” Maybe that’s why the beginning of “The Hungry Ghost” from 2008’s 4:13 Dream sounded so familiar…
Check Out: “Vapour Trail,” “Drive Blind,” “Future Love”
Warpaint
While there’s no shortage of bands that have drawn influence from The Cure’s look and all-around gloominess, Warpaint tap into the band’s ambient, atmospheric side. Their sound is a direct descendant of hypnotic fan-favorites like “A Forest” or “Plainsong,” driven by powerful post-punk basslines that would undoubtedly get a nod of approval from Simon Gallup.
Check Out: “Undertow,” “Elephants,” “Like Sweetness”
Just Mustard
When The Cure headlined Dublin’s Malahide Castle back in 2019, they handpicked Irish shoegazers Just Mustard to kick off the already-stacked bill, featuring Ride and The Twilight Sad. They’re one of Robert Smith’s personal favorite bands, with songs that have a similar beauty and sonic tension to brooding ‘80s albums like Pornography, Faith and Disintegration. While you can’t really go wrong, last year’s Heart Under is a great place to begin.
Check Out: “Still,” “Pigs,” “Deaf”
Single day tickets are still available to see The Cure with Ride, Just Mustard, The Mars Volta and tons of other great bands on Sunday, September 17. Get yours now!
The Related Rabbit Hole
