Current “It-factor” band, MGMT, sold out the Echoplex along
with co-headliner Yeasayer last Saturday.
Our group of seven withstood the two hours of rain to get
the last remaining tickets. Literally, we were of the final 25 lucky “walk-ons”
(the doorman assigned us numbers, you’d think Willy Wonka was headlining). This
kind of commitment contest was not expected for such a young act, whose first
album only came out last week (then again we should have learned something from
that Vampire Weekend experience).
\The Vision\
MGMT’s debut, Oracular Spectacular, has become a force in
the apartment since all roommates fell hard for its acid-washed videos and
anthems like 08’ frontrunner, “Electric Feel.” I haven’t seen such
unified listening sessions since this time last year when Of Montreal first Hissed from our windows.
All elements fell into place for this legendary night; old friends
in town, a day full of beach volleyball, and that cohesive buzz I just talked
about. That was until we realized the prospect of a sell out. It didn’t look
good for us and the dozens of others in a line of uncertainty running off
Sunset Blvd. But torrential downpour on top of anticipation would only add to
the tale. And luckily we had enough Christopher Walken impersonators around to
pass the time. There was this general “record release party” vibe going on
inside.
\The Fun\
From what I caught of Yeasayer, they infused some extra
energy into tracks from All Hours Cymbals. In other words, the whole thing came
to life nicely.
Yeasayer
MGMT
We migrated to the front as Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben
Goldwasser, and the rest of MGMT (they tour as a five-piece) setup their own
equipment. VanWyngarden, who I must say
has every unsaid appeal imaginable as a frontman, gently plugged in like it were
a high school battle of the bands. But right from the opener, “Handshake”, it
was nothing short of psychedelic pop perfection (or rock done right, or dance
all sexed up, or whatever you want to try and call it).
The band stuck around after the show.
It didn’t take long for stadiums and shrines power hype guy, Tony Earley, to
approach the humble guys by the merch table. What transpired from that
conversation on cannot fully be retold in this internet age… but let’s just say
the story ends with a 3am text message from Andrew saying something like,
“See
you at Coachella. Space Kittens Forever!”
More videos from the show:
MGMT | "Time To Pretend"
MGMT | "Electric Feel"
MGMT | "Kids" (Karaoke Encore) ((try to ignore the singing fan with terrible voice))
Here’s a new segment where recent
musical happenings that I might have blogged about, given more time, are listed.
1. Yes Vampire Weekend has been shot
out of a canon this week. Yay! or Backlash? Discuss.
2. We just got our 3 day passes to
Coachella. Inevitable details coming.
3. Just listened to the new Mars Volta
record today. It sounds like the Mars Volta.
4. The Tough Alliance is sweeedishly fun.
5. The latest Destroyer album, Trouble in
Dreams, is getting heavy play in the office, most likely leading coworkers
to think I’ve entered a David Bowie phase.
6. American Gladiators!
7. LCD Soundsystem’s 45:33 Nike Running
mix works
8. The Juno Soundtrack is nice. I am still
yet to get myself to a theater though. Is that considered cheating?
9. Ian hates Deerhoof, much like Chuck
hated Deerhoof. This means I have a new mission.
10. Term of the week: Yacht Rock.