I wasn’t planning on playing anything super new at last night’s Nocturno-presented fundraiser for Refugee Children Center. The Cure was the theme for the night and, by 1 a.m., I was trying to squeeze in as many songs from the band as possible. But, also, the crowd was riding this darkwave-meets-Italo-meets-Crystal Castles vibe, so right after Mr. Flagio’s classic “Take a Chance” faded out and “Vanished,” the Crystal Castle song, took over, I thought that new Male Tears song might work. And it did. Actually, “Little Doll” worked really well. It kept the crowd going between and segued nicely to “Fotonovela,” the old Spanish synthpop tune from Ivan, which lead to Depeche Mode and then to more Cure to close out the night.
Male Tears dropped “Little Doll” earlier this month. I gave it a listen because I liked the cover art. IDK if ‘80s Eastern European Fantasy Film is the intended aesthetic, but that’s how I see it and I love it. It turns out that I loved the song too. It’s catchy synthpop with a just a hint of early ‘90s Eurodance creeping in the background. Definitely a keeper. (If you want to snag a copy for yourself, here’s the link to the song on Bandcamp, which I think is still the more artist-friendly option.)
Anyhow, thanks to everyone who came out last night to dance and support Refugee Children Center. Here’s the set list.
The Cure - Pictures of YouThe Cure – Charlotte Sometimes
Martin Gore – Compulsion
Love and Rockets – So Alive
Boy Harsher – Send Me a Vision
Linea Aspera – Attica
Ultra Sunn- Broken Monsters
Crystal Castles – Suffocation
Pastel Ghost – Iris
Male Tears – Model Citizen
Sextile – Contortion
Panther Modern – Creep
The Cure- The Walk
TR/ST- Dressed for Space
Actors – Face Meets Glass
Lebanon Hannover – Sadness Is Rebellion
Twin Tribes – Monolith
B Movie – Nowhere Girl
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf
The Cure – In Between Days
She Wants Revenge – Tear You Apart
Bloc Party -Banquet
Molchat Doma- Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)
French Police – Club De Vampiros
Boy Harsher – Pain
Nitzer Ebb – Join in the Chant
Ultra Sunn- Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
Depeche Mode -Personal Jesus
Real Life – Send Me an Angel
Bronski Beat- Smalltown Boy
Trans X – Living on Video
The Flirts – Danger
Vitalic – La Rock 01
Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith – Not in Love
Pastel Ghost- Dark Beach
Mareux – Lovers from the Past
Q Lazarus – Goodbye Horses
The Cure – Let’s Go to Bed
Righeira – Vamos a la Playa
New Order – Blue Monday
Lime – Babe We’re Gonna Love Tonight
Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round
Alaska y Dinarama – A Quien Le Importa
Boy Harsher – LA
Lebanon Hannover – Gallowdance
The Cure – Love Song
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
French Police – HER
Twin Tribes – Sangre de Oro
Depresion Post Mortem – Yo Voy
The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry
The Smiths- Bigmouth Strikes Again
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
Yaz – Situation
Boy Harsher – Machina
Sextile – Disco
Crystal Castles, Health – Crimewave
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Depeche Mode – Strangelove
Glass Spells- Hechizos
The Cure – Close to Me
Los Prisioneros – Tren al Sur
The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
Modern English – I Melt With You
Blood Club – No Quiero Bailar
Twin Tribes – Fantasmas
The Cure – Play for Today
Psychedelic Furs – Love My Way
The Horrors – Something to Remember Me By
Talking Heads – Girlfriend is Better
Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
New Order – Perfect Kiss
Boy Harsher – Give Me a Reason
Mr. Flagio – Take a Chance
Crystal Castles – Vanished
Male Tears – Little Doll
Ivan – Fotonovela
Depeche Mode- Everything Counts
The Cure – A Night Like This
The Cure – Lullaby
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.
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