The ticket was expensive (almost $60, including stupid Ticketmaster's service fees) and thus I went in with high, high, high expectations for both acts. MGMT opened right on time at 7:30. It was an all ages show, and there were braces up front as far as the eye could see - very strange; I'd almost forgot young children existed. MGMT opened up to screams as soon as they started in on the bleeps and bloops of the keyboard on "Time to Pretend." I was up close, and it was crowded; I could hardly dance it was so shoulder to shoulder, but I shook it out and made it work. Someone had broccoli farts - bad. Also, there were two drunk Latinas behind me who insisted on nasally sing-shouting the words to all the songs, even when they didn't know the words. Just great. The boys sounded amazing, had awesome energy, seemed to really be enjoying themselves, and worked the stage/crowd - phenomenal. I really liked the dudes who played with 'em, too. The add-in guitarist wailed hardcore, and the drummer rocked his set - they both looked like Led Zeppelin roadies; I dug their sound and style.Another funny thing about the crowd for MGMT were these two couples dancing together - totally on ecstasy - getting more excitable throughout the set. One of the dudes kept bumping into a Dad who was there with his daughter - most likely for protection - and after he did he would apologize, "Dude. I'm sorry." And he proceeded to pet the man's bald head in an apology attempt. Hilarious.
Man, I really wish I could've seen MGMT open for Of Montreal way back last November before they blew up... bummer, dude. The set they played was so short as Oracular Spectacular is only 10 songs and like 41 minutes long... oh yeah, and they played the album in order, which was a super bummer; I was really looking forward to hearing "Boogie Down" live, which is from their 2005 EP, Time to Pretend. During "Kids" Ben and Andrew got off their instruments and rallied around the stage... Andrew got all excited banging on the drums, and Ben danced around and drank some beer. Although they did play the entire album, they funked it up and added some jam sessions onto songs like "4th Dimensional Transition" - really talented, I can't wait until they're headliners and I get to see 'em as that. SOON! I hope!!
After they finished "Future Reflections" and left the stage I wailed, "NOOOOOOOO! Come back, play Boogie Down!" But they did not, and the roadies got to work switching up the sets for Mr. Beck & Friends. I wandered away from the crowd, "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, excuuuuuuse me," to the bar, "Ah one shot of whiskey, and a beer, please." Then I wrote a little, moseyed upstairs to the VIP section, "Who do you have to know to get in there?" The guy said, "You gotta be on the list." Well, you're no fun, mister. I went downstairs to the merch table and picked up a sweet shirt and poster - both MGMT. Wandered back upstairs, made some friends, and then the lights went down and Beck took the stage.
I was looking forward to Beck, but not nearly as much as I was for MGMT. Let me just say, WOW! He rocked, he rolled. He played every song you ever wanted to hear. From "Hell Yes" to "Loser" to "We Dance Alone" - it was incredible. And the crowd was so energetic and friendly. I stood next to a pirate for a while, and a guy who kept high fivin' me and yellin' "FUCK YEAH!" after every song - it was fun for the first five, then he started movin' in on me and I wasn't having any of that so I went for a double shot of whiskey, I didn't have any money for water and since it was bottled I asked the barkeep for free water, and he pointed to the Miller tab and said "You mean this?" Oh, yeah, sure. And he poured me half a cup - saaaaweeet!!!!My besties didn't buy their tickets in time before the show sold out so I flew solo, and it was great. I loved wandering around to different areas without having to worry about what a friend wanted to do. Everyone Beck played with was super talented, too. During "Hell Yes" they all got off their instruments, gathered at the front of the stage by the microphones, headphones on, tape recorders in hand - and fuckin' tore it up, electric style. It was amazing. I appreciate Beck so much more than I ever did before, even if he is a Scientologist, which super sucks, but religions aside, he's a talented artist and I look forward to seeing him in concert again. (I dig this album mix)
The show was over by 10:30 and I was able to go out and rage it with my ladies for a friend's birthday. It was a great night and a great start to an amazing weekend!! On Saturday I went to see EOTO with 9 friends, and it was incredible!! Read what my friend Ashley had to say about that.
you can fly through space and click to learn more. Oooh! It's fun. You can change the background, too! Walter Meego is occasionally played on Ugly Betty and is influenced by everything from The Beatles and other awesome oldies to Nirvana and other crazy 90s music, alternative to dance-dance-dancey. WOW!
I do hope that I see this one on the far right in person. I will surely chloroform him after shaking hands. Ooh! What a beautiful man. Yum, my heart sings.
