Not heaven in the sense of dreams come true and requited love, but rather a gloomy place reserved for disillusioned, star-crossed lovers.

The first song, "Lost," set the mood for the evening. Robert Smith and company took the stage, bathed in black, informing those gathered at the Usana Amphitheater that "I can't find myself." The vocals were smoother than they are on the album, but the song lost none of its bite.

The first six songs of the show bounced between the new album and "Disintegration," which many consider the band's magnum opus. During the melodious "Plainsong," a grinning Smith strolled the stage, gazing over his cheering fans as though he intended to look each one of them in the face.

The energy was palpable, and Smith's vocals were perfect, for "Fascination Street," followed by the latest single "The End of the World." Judging by crowd reaction, the new stuff is popular with the public.

Smith donned an acoustic guitar for "Inbetween Days" and the popular "Just Like Heaven." The sweet and doleful "Pictures of You" had people in the crowd exchanging knowing glances during the first few chords, acknowledging the connection they have to the band and its music.

"Lullaby," in all its spidery creepiness, preceded the first outright happy song of the night, "Before Three," on which Smith sings about "the happiest day I knew." "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" was a layered musical orgy, second only in length and complexity to "Disintegration," a long, difficult song that the band nailed, especially at the angry climax.

The crowd was surprisingly receptive to "A Hundred Years," one of the most depressing songs ever penned, accentuated by images of wartime destruction projected onto a giant screen behind the stage. The regular set ended with Smith's favorite track off the new record, "The Promise."

The Cure reached deep into its 25-year repertoire for the first encore, playing "M," "Play For Today," and "A Forest," all from 1980's "Seventeen Seconds." A second encore featured the sweet, tuneful crowd pleasers "Close to Me," "Love Cats" and "Boys Don't Cry."

Scotland's Mogwai opened the Curiosa festival, showcasing three samples of its brand of fuzzy, instrumental noise making. "Jewish,

its wicked reverberations, was an amazing oratory onslaught. Congrats to band leader Stuart Braithwaite for busting five of his guitar strings.

Interpol had the crowd nodding with repetitive yet powerful hooks. "NYC," smooth and harmonious, was also strangely touching, especially with the repeated lyric "It's up to me now turn on the bright lights."