First — for those of you who don’t plan on reading the entire review — MGMT and Yeasayer played last night at the Echoplex in Echo Park and it was glorious.
Second — for those of you planning on reading the review — LA’s been funny lately.
Yesterday was the clearest day I’ve seen in years. You could see the snow capped San Bernardino Mountains from Manhattan Beach and the city of Los Angeles was on plain view for anyone who cared to look.
Naturally I was excited for a night out on the town, perhaps a little Yeasayer, maybe, oh I don’t know — MGMT! The only problem — I didn’t have tickets and the show was completely sold out.
But that’s fine, right? We’ve all waited in line outside the door for our favorite new bands, and lord knows we all expected the Echo Park hipsters to come out in full effect, suit vests and cardigans a blazin’, so we (me and my friends, not my friends and I) arrived at 6:30, about an hour before the doors opened.
There were no tickets. And at 6:45 it started raining, “Fuck.”
No big deal though, we were at the front of the line, the show was within our grasp and the line had already grown to around 50 people in 15 minutes. We were going to get in —it was just a matter of time.
But who wants to wait in line sober? Two of us walked down to the corner store, bought some whiskey and some coke and made some whiskey and cokes for the group.
A beat.
By 8:45, the crowd was growing restless, most of the ticket holders had already entered the show, the line of people waiting to purchase tickets stretched all the way around the block and numbered in the hundreds. Not to mention it had been raining for two hours at this point. Those of us without umbrellas (and probably those with, as well) were soaked to the bone. The whiskey we had bought at the corner store was completely gone and our spirits were near broken. I mean, I love rock and roll, but this was getting ridiculous.
Finally, at 9:30pm PST the first 25 people in the line were given the green light to switch into the will call line, ready our IDs and prepare for entrance into the venue.
YES!
Although at this point, there’s a good chance I was more excited to go inside than to actually see a show.
When we got in the door, Yeasayer was right in the middle of their set, psychedelic video playing in the background, you know the kind where an image is mirrored on the left and right portions of the screen and then changes like a kaleidoscope to the music.
Unfortunately, my energy level was so high by the time I got in the door, Yeasayer’s laid back, frolicking stage presence was somewhat unsatisfying. I was looking for something more driving, something with more presence, something I could dance to so my clothes would dry out.
With that said, Yeasayer’s performance was good. I have a propensity to be really hard on opening acts since I saw Man Man open for Modest Mouse over the summer. I will still make the argument that Man Man was better than Modest Mouse that night.
Back to the concert.
By the time Yeasayer finished their set I had completely lost track of time. My focus was on one thing — MGMT.
As soon as they stepped on stage, I knew it had been worth it. They launched right into “Weekend Wars” an apt song for the moment, “It’s difficult to win unless you’re bored, and you might have to plan for the weekend wars.”
I worked my way closer to the stage as Andrew exchanged some light banter with the crowd. I squeezed my way into the mix, and just as I got settled, the band launched into “The Youth,” their ballad for time past, “we could flood the streets with love or light or head, whatever, lock the parents out, cut a run, twist and shout, wave your hands, make it rain.”
I said in a review of Los Campesinos! last week that their sound was “nostalgic” I want to recycle that here for MGMT’s “The Youth.” And although I love their slow ballads, “Time to Pretend” was what I had come to see, so I moved closer to the stage so I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to cut some rug.
Then out of the blue, they jumped right into “Time to Pretend,” I’m not sure why I was caught so off guard, I guess I thought they would save it for last because it’s my favorite song, “I’m feeling rough, I’m feeling raw, I’m in the prime of my life.”
Thank you MGMT. Thank you. It just makes me feel better when someone else says it too.
I got my opportunity to dance the rain off, everyone around me seemed in a legitimately good mood and I felt among friends. The atmosphere was pretty amazing, although I would have loved to see more people dancing. After “Time to Pretend” the band played “Electric Feel” which was definitely a crowd favorite.
I pulled back out of the crowd and found my friends dancing near the bar. I felt rough. I felt raw, and it felt like — this — was the prime of my life.
After a few more songs, MGMT closed with “Kids,” which now looking back was probably the safe bet for their closer. All in all, their performance was better than expected and satisfying.
It was well worth all the waiting and the bad weather and the bullshit.
I know this was a long way to go for a drop of water (all the pun intended), but the point is that MGMT, in the rain, at the Echoplex, with your friends, is the perfect mix. I highly recommend that you go and pick up Oracular Spectacular and check them out when they come to your corner of the country.
My Trusted MOGs
Great all-action review!
My Trusted MOGs
That is some dedication - waiting 2 hours to maybe get in. I'm impressed. I am def. gonna check these dudes out next time they come to NYC. Too much fun... And "Time To Pretend" is their best song, next to "Kids". Nice review.
My Trusted MOGs
Great review, thanks. :) Amazing that those two albums (Los Campesinos! and MGMT) will be released in the first two months of 2008 already.
I was thinking about going and see those guys live, they are playing in the small hall at the Paradiso in early March, and now I'm even more inclined to do so. ;)
btw, geez, waiting so long in the rain, glad you got in. ;)