Last Sunday, Conrad and I headed down to the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ, to catch The Curiosa Festival, headlined by The Cure.  The Cure is my favorite band of all time.  I like the Cure better than I like myself.  And I like myself a lot.  A whole lot. 

We left early enough, but a mudslide blocking all lanes of I-76 E prevented us from getting there on time.  Then, the directions the Tweeter Center gave on their website led us to a flooded out roadway and lots of people with drugs.
 
Unlike earlier that day, the weather was perfect that night--one of the very few sunny and non-humid nights we've had all summer.  I had never been to the Tweeter Center.  Despite it being in New Jersey, it turned out to be one of the nicest venues I've ever been at.  You're right off the water with Philly and the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background

We missed The Cooper Temple Clause, and most of Mogwai's set due to our awesome detours. 

Up next was Melissa Auf Der Maur, of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins fame. While her songs really didn't really stand out at all, and almost border lined boring, she totally made up for it with her performance.  Her confidence as a performer is almost enviable. Vocally she sounded great, and she moves more naturally and comfortably than most artists I've seen.  It was a pleasure to then have a chance to meet her later on. 

I only caught one of Rapture's songs, and one of Thursday's songs, so I can't really comment on their performances. Conrad and I were too busy eating a horrid cheese steak that tasted like New Jersey.

Interpol was what you'd expect.  Unless you've never heard them.  In that case, oh well.

Muse freaking rocks.  I don't think my words could even do the band justice-especially justice to front man Matthew Bellamy.  Musicians like him are few and far between.  He's an incredible vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and overall performer.  The band was totally into the show, and so was the crowd.  They opened up with 'Apocalypse Please' off their album 'Absolution' which you need to pick up right now.  It is the best album of the year so far.  (not including Divebomber's 'Evil Robot')  Conrad actually likes this band, and he hates everything--even kittens. 

To top off this wonderful evening in lovely Camden, NJ, was The Cure.  We all anxiously awaited as the lights dimmed, then came the sound of chimes, then the twinkling lights, and then we all knew it was coming--the mesmerizing opening of 'Plainsong'.  Across the stage came a dark figure-the crowd went crazy, and then the 'I think it's dark, and it looks like rain you said'.  And all through this, I had the biggest smile on my face.  I don't think there's a better song they could have opened with. 

Here's their set list (that I'm 99.9% sure of):

Plainsong, Shake Dog Shake, Fascination Street, A Strange Day, The End of the World, Anniversary, Lovesong, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Jupiter Crash, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Maybe Someday, Before Three, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, alt.end, One Hundred Years, Disintegration

1st encore: Charlotte Sometimes, Faith
2nd encore: Boys Don't Cry
3rd encore:  Who Let the Dogs Out, In Da Club, and Friends in Low Places

We left before Boys Don't Cry because we were smart and wanted to avoid the rush.  We finally got out of New Jersey, repented, then got back to Pennsylvania and purchased bactine and penicillin.