Local musicians bring The Cure in latest installment of Pittsburgh Plays

For the fifth installment of Pittsburgh Plays, founder Josh Bakaitus went with a band that he only got into in recent years.

“I wish I could say I’ve been a lifelong Cure superfan, but honestly, while I have been familiar with their hits, I only really truly discovered them in the past couple of years,” he said. “I’ve become completely obsessed with their music! It might’ve started with Phoebe Bridgers’ cover of ‘Friday I’m In Love.’ I’d always known the song, but her version really got me to dig deeper into their catalog.

“We were looking for something different this year, something unexpected that would break the Pittsburgh Plays mold a bit. Going with a band like The Cure, who really hit their peak in the ’80s, felt fresh and exciting. Plus, they haven’t played here in a long time, so we knew there was a real pent-up demand among Pittsburgh fans to hear those iconic songs live. It just felt like the right time.”

Pittsburgh Plays: The Cure will take place on Dec. 14 at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, where more than 30 Pittsburgh area musicians will pay tribute to the English gothic rock band. Previous editions included tributes to Tom Petty (2018), Paul McCartney (2019), Fleetwood Mac (2021) and Queen (2022).

Steve Soboslai, the singer/guitarist for Punchline and the Pittsburgh Plays host, said four to six bands are formed from all the artist submissions, with rotating vocalists.

”It’s an exciting challenge for everyone involved because the musicians are typically grouped with people they don’t know, which makes the experience both unique and rewarding,” Soboslai said. “One of the most amazing things to witness is how these strangers evolve into a team by show day. Beyond the music, the friendships and connections formed during rehearsals are, without a doubt, the most rewarding part of this process. In some cases, these connections even lead to new bands and ongoing musical projects.

“When I first participated, I knew it would be a fun and entertaining show for the audience, but I didn’t anticipate the deeper layer of camaraderie and love that comes with stepping outside your comfort zone to learn and perform songs together. That sense of community has become the heart of what makes Pittsburgh Plays so special.”

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Punchline and Lakeview drummer Cory Muro, who helped found Pittsburgh Plays, said building connections among Pittsburgh musicians is the most fulfilling part of the event.

“From the first Pittsburgh Plays, it was important to us to help break down some of the barriers between genres and cliques within the Pittsburgh music scene. We never expected it to be so impactful that actual bands have been formed and sparked so many great friendships and working relationships in our great and talented city,” he said. “As people who have been involved in this scene from a young age, you get to see how hard it can be to get your foot in the door with bands that are older and more experienced, but it’s so important to have those doors open because young and newer artists can benefit so much from advice and guidance.

“It’s gratifying to see such a large portion of the talent we have to offer here all work together in tandem on one event and just shows how much talent we really have here in Pittsburgh!”

Guitarist Josh Fiedler of The Juliana Theory, who also played in the 2022 tribute to Queen, said there were too many choices to narrow down The Cure’s top songs.

“It’s honestly impossible to pick a favorite song for me. The Cure are probably my second favorite band of all time next to The Beatles, and their whole catalog is brilliant,” he said. “’Push’ and ‘A Letter To Elise’ are up there for me for sure. But it always depends on the mood, I could easily go ‘Fascination Street’ or ‘Want’ if I’m feeling particularly dark on a given day. And ‘Friday I’m In Love’ is the best pop song ever written.”