05/27/2000  - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas, NV (USA)

Roger O' Donnell
(photo submitted by - Laura Marie Boykin)

(Review by Laura on COF)

This trip was so much fun. I headed out of ABQ with my friend Katherine-bound for LAS VEGAS. She was meeting
up with an old friend and my sole purpose was to see the cure (and hang with Katherine and RITU)
We arrived at around 11am and headed to our hotel (THE SAHARA). There we went directly to the pool to try
and catch some sun. It was so damn hot we stayed out there only an hour! After that Katherine's friend RITU
arrived and we began the evening. I kept thinking to myself- "I wonder if Robert and the boys go swimming!!"
Just a funny thought. Everywhere we went that night I kept my eyes open for one of them. We went on the
stratosphere-2 times. I remember the old cure site had a picture of the band going on that thing and the entire
time we rode it I kept thinking how funny it must have been to see Robert Smith scared out of his mind.

The day of the concert I got ready and headed over to the hard rock hotel around 5pm. My friend Katherine
agreed to come over with me until the concert started or I found someone I knew. I ran into Craig and Nadine
and we hung out until the show started. I refused to stand out in that heat-period.

Upon arrival to the hotel I saw everyone lined up. My friend Katherine and I walked up and down the line just
trying to be friendly. Why are people so up tight before the shows? I'm sorry but people loosen up! If you meet
the band you do if you don't you don't-chill out. Ok , sorry about the rant. We then headed inside and stood
outside the Joint entrance and what do you know-Roger was standing there looking around. I snapped a picture
but he wasn't very happy about that. It was during the soundcheck so maybe he was stressed about something-who
knows.

The concert was excellent. It was to bad the audience was so lame. Craig, Nadine and I were so suprised that
people were not clapping inbetween the encores. No wonder we didn't get Faith or any of the other awesome
rarely played songs. Don't get me wrong I love the singles too but kind of wanted to hear the others. My biggest
criticism is that I wanted Robert to talk more inbetween songs. He hardly said 10 words throughout the entire
concert. I think it is so cute when he mumbles things. That is really not a criticism just my own personal preference.
ROGER-SMILE (ok 2 things).

I only have one more chance to hear "there is no if" so I hope they play that in Denver (pretty please). This
weekend we head to Denver (probably the only 2 fans going to be there-joke).

Highlights for me included: M, 100 years,shake dog shake, killing an arab, etc. The biggest highlight was after
the show only a hand full of fans got to interact with Robert, Perry, Jason, Roger, Simon, and the rest of the crew.
It was amazing just sitting there at that roulette table with them. Listening to their awesome accents-A dream come
true. It is kind of strange now though because they became real that night. It is hard to describe but that interaction
kind of changed my obsession. I still love the band but the excitement of the chase is no longer there.

I know I have forgotten all sorts of details. Gambling with the band would be a whole 10 page story on its own.
Robert was smoking, Roger was smoking so that rumor is confirmed (who really cares in my opinion).
Jason lost alot of money playing black jack.
There were lots of young beautiful (annoying) girls hanging out with the band. Simon came down and hung out for
awhile. Jason went up before Robert, Roger, and Perry. I overheard Jason telling this random woman at the black
jack table that he had better stop playing because he had lots of work to do. She then asked what he did and he
replied-"Oh I play in a band and we have a concert tomorrow". Very cute. He was a very nice man to talk with.
Overall, a great experience. I'm getting excited to see them in Denver.