By Rachel Hommel

There are some moments in life that simply cannot be passed up. Such was a night like this.
Obviously The Cure is a big draw. When a band has been together for more than twenty years, you can’t help but accept that a farewell tour could come at any time. Likely it’s part of the reason The Cricket Pavilion was full of fans ranging in age from 14 to 40. As we walked through the gates of the pavilion, I stepped into a universe where indie rock met the revived British new wave and hardcore met The Cure.

The Rapture was just lovely; playing all their hits from Echoes, and even some of their earlier material. Sadly, no one was dancing, but rather eating pretzels and popcorn while waiting for Interpol to arrive. My theory: People are afraid of light. As soon as the sun went down, no longer was it just the random hippie woman dancing on the lawn to her own beat. When it got dark the dance “vampires” arose from their seats and the show officially began.

Interpol put on a stunning performance. Into the setting sun, the band played favorite hits and successfully set the tone for the rest of the night. People were starting to move. “Turn on the Bright Lights” prompted everyone to turn on their energy and sing along. “Obstacle 1” however defines who Interpol is - strong, poignant, handsome. A crowd pleaser, everyone was mouthing the words “she puts the weights into my little heart.” It was repetitive bliss. And “Say Hello to the Angels” was a dance favorite. Though their will always be Joy Division comparisons, Interpol has been able to take their influences and make them into something all their own.

Unlike the Warped Tour, fans did not have to choose between bands performing at the same time. But not everything worked that night. Cursive's set was on a separate stage along with a few of the smaller opening bands. Like a wild stampede, every kid in their mid-teens to early twenties ran to see Cursive perform. To see Cursive as an opening band was odd. They are always the band to anticipate, yet their antics that night were slurred like a silver-deficient 8mm film. The audience was more like grazing cattle than rabid audiophiles.

But alas, both the young and older crowd migrated back to the lawn to wait for the most anticipated moment of the night. For fans that grew up with The Cure, it may have been a last chance to see them perform. For newbies, it may have been the biggest event in their young concert going careers.

The Cure's fans are some of the strangest and unique creatures in this world. Of course there were the Robert Smith look-alikes; dressed from head to toe in black and sporting the infamous off-center red lipstick. However, in the midst of these 20 and 30 something's, were twins, no more than eight years of age, dressed in full Smith gear. And at their sides was their mother boastfully showing off her “creations.” Then there was Robert Smith, who simply looked amazing. To be lying on cool grass, looking up at the stars, and hearing that mournful voice… Yet I think people would have probably been satisfied just watching Smith's mannerisms. The band just has this innate ability to make the music take over and engulf listeners in a somber, sometimes ecstatic, beauty. The crowd favorite was “Lovecats,” although “Love Song” did prompt a few hundred kisses on cue. A show for lovers, or one-nighters, The Cure made the audience feel good. Their instrumentals are simply haunting and Smith's forlorn voice is at their zenith. They ended the set with “A Forest” as a green screen on stage was transformed into a quaint village with blooming flowers and ivy. At the closing of the show, after two encores, The Cure thanked the audience, exclaiming how much fun they had, and left. The audience, rapt in a spirit of melancholic elation, also reluctantly departed the auditorium.

When you put British rock with Midwestern style, you would think the outcome would be a little peculiar. But that wasn’t at all the case here. It was an intricate blend of romance, passion, and angst: a night showcasing a spectrum of musical brilliance.