Personally, I think that it is brilliant how the story turned into an
article about the Cure.
awesome.
-Erica
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1179885345198680.xml&coll=7
sound check
Friday, May 25, 2007By LEE WILLIAMS
GOTH CONVERGES ON ****TLAND -- If you're staying in ****tland through the
long
Memorial Day weekend you might be wondering about those 1,500 or so folks
dressed in black velvet, lace and veils who will be wandering into the
Crystal Ballroom, Powell's Books and even onboard the ****tland Spirit.
For the first time the City of Roses is hosting Convergence, North
America's
largest and longest-running goth-culture and music festival. Now in it's
13th year, Convergence runs Friday through Monday. And at least one
****tland
band is already reveling in the chance to play Monday night's closing
event.
"These are our people," says Cedric Justice, lead vocalist for ****tland
band
the Xploding Boys, a Cure tribute band.
The Xploding Boys have been covering the Cure's melancholic musical
terrain
since 1999. Regulars at the Fez Ballroom, and '80s-themed events around
the
Northwest, the band has never played Convergence. Justice, though,
attended
the 2000 Convergence held in Seattle, and the convention in Las Vegas in
2003.
Originally from Lebanon, Ore., Justice's foray into the
often-misunderstood
lifestyle was a means of celebrating the emotionally cathartic music of
the
Cure.
"When I first saw Robert Smith in the 'Fascination Street' video (1988), I
thought, 'That's it! I don't know what exactly it is, but that's it.' "
Justice has seen the Cure perform live three times, all Northwest shows,
including a 1996 concert at the Gorge Amphitheater, which he quit his job
to
attend.
"Back when you could quit a job and get another one quickly," he says with
a
laugh.
The Cure has been working on a follow-up to 2004's "The Cure," their last
studio album.
"And I suspect they'll tour again, and I also suspect they'll skip over
****tland again," Justice says. "Which is why I started this band --
because
they don't tour very often, and they don't come out with albums very
often."
****tland is blessed with a loyal goth community, and hosts goth-themed
music
events every night of the week, save Monday. And while Justice's band has
fared well, he's found that fans can be fickle when it comes to the set
list.
"They want to either hear all the (Cure's) pop songs or they want to hear
the deeper album tracks," Justice says. "One of the things we like as a
band
is NOT playing the pop songs. But this set for Convergence will be very
special for this audience," he promises, curling a Robert Smith-like
smile.
Lee Williams is a ****tland freelance writer; lwilliamsd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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