Kate is a self-proclaimed music aficionado and Philly scenester who grew up on the Beatles, has dabbled in all things indie and is now dedicated to supporting and promoting the best local acts around town. Here, she'll shed light on hot shows, must-have albums and artists to watch in the city o' brotherly love.

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me

You couldn't grow up an alternative kid in the '90s without listening to the Cure. It was vital social currency--my poetry-writing boyfriend in high school was obsessed with Robert Smith, and our eccentric young English teacher won our esteem when she brought in a recording of "Killing an Arab" to supplement her lesson plan on Camus' The Stranger.

The Cure was the perfect band for us to love. From the outside, the group appeared dark and mysterious, with vague goth associations and front man Robert Smith's Edward Scissorhands-esque appearance. But behind the melancholy lay a slew of jaunty pop hits (the "Lovecats," "Mint Car," "Friday I'm in Love"), which sounded best blasted from the stereo of my '93 Taurus.

But if the Cure spoke to my friends and I growing up in Jersey in '90s, the band also spoke to thousands, nay, millions, who felt validated by the combination of angsty, brooding lyrics and ethereal new wave beats. Smith, with his smeared lipstick and haywire hairstyle was the poster child for iconoclasts everywhere and made being an outcast look really freakin' cool.

Since forming in 1976 the band has released no less than 12 albums, with a 13th due out in September 2008. From the sounds of the first single, "The Only One," it looks like another wild ride.

Catch the Cure live this Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Wachovia Spectrum. For tickets, visit Evenue.net.


Photo by Andy Vella