MGMT are one of those Brooklyn-based electronica bands who, in the past 2 years or so, blew up and became immensely popular, especially with the high school crowd. (I realized this when my 17-year-old brother, who previously claimed Coldplay was his favorite band, made the switch.) And why not? There's something about the duo's effortlessly cool tunes that appeals to kids in particular, especially as they insist “the youth is starting to change” and “lock the parents out, cut a rug, twist and shout.”
Yet MGMT are more than just another pop fad band; they're also very good songwriters, whose expert fusion of video game electronics, new wave beats and freewheeling psych-pop led to 2008's Oracular Spectacular being named the best album of the year by NME. And as last night's performance at the 23rd Street Armory proved, they're really fun to catch live too.
The headlining act during Kia's “Soul Collective” weekend, MGMT capped off a 3 day celebration of free performances hosted by Kia. In order to obtain tickets, fans had to stop by the Armory Friday through Sunday and test drive a KiaSoul-the response was so overwhelming that tickets ran out the first day! (Later drivers received tickets to Grizzly Bear instead-hardly a consolation prize.)
I arrive for the concert early Sunday evening and am immediately impressed. The Kia staff has the place decked out: there's a large stage with colorful spotlights, array speakers, and large drop cloths to keep the sound from echoing. The sound booth itself is dwarfed by a giant robot cutout with laser eyes, and there's a snack bar pumping out complimentary bevs-all of this, for free!
And then there's the crowd. Ohhhh, the crowd. A high concentration of kids ages 16-20, everyone is wearing their very best party outfits (including the girl next to me, in a slinky black bodysuit with a J-Lo neckline and boob tape) and is seriously PUMPED, jumping up and down in the air, screaming lyrics, and waving their arms excitedly.
MGMT don't disappoint. Their hour-long set is stacked with hits like “Kids” and “Electric Feel,” plus long, swirling, psych pop interludes, and a smattering of new material. They're joined by 3 extra musicians who help flesh out their sprawling anthems; tracks like “Of Moons, Birds, & Monsters” stand out, with dance-y ethereal melodies that increase in intensity, climaxing as the audience furiously dances.
Front man Andrew VanWyngarden is mostly nonchalant, running his fingers through his hair and cracking a few jokes between numbers. “This song is called 'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix,” says VanWyngarden during his encore, before launching into “Weekend Wars.” The band closes with “Destrokk”, cutting off the last note suddenly and disappearing from the stage.
But the crowd keeps dancing-someone spins a MGMT remix, and slowly a mob forms in the center of the floor as teenagers-savoring the last moments of a magical weekend-throw their arms up and sing. The youth is starting to change indeed.
