MGMT - Live in Brighton
20/05/08 00:16 Filed in: Live
What a gig! What a band! Recently I did a post
on
MGMT's
new
album which I hope spells out just how
much I love it. Well, when I heard they were coming
to town I had to go and see them and no better place
but
Brighton Digital right on the sea front.
After sound-check I got to meet up with Andrew from the band as we stood at the waters edge of Brighton beach on a glorious Monday afternoon. We threw stones across the water as I explained to him about Brightons two piers and Brighton itself which he really liked and hopes to visit again in August. I also got to speak to him about their work with Dave Fridmann on the album which he said was a 'perfect match for them'.
The gig kicked off later on that day with the band Florence and the Machine. I really enjoyed this band, all three of them (no bassist) but she had an amazing voice which was capable of delivering any range of vocals with what seemed to be without any effort at all. Shouting one second and then whispering the next, the expression she is able to deliver just on her own meant no escape from the fact that every man in the audience wanted to marry her.
Brighton digital is a nice venue with a sound system that is simply fantastic, better than Shepherds Bush Empire as I found out from Weens recent gig earlier this month. The venue has reasonably priced drinks (very important) and plenty of room within and a free cloakroom!
MGMT took to the stage with a crowd now jam packed into the venue with myself at the front. Everyone was very excited and I have to say I was too. The main question I had on my mind was 'is it going to sound like the album'? and indeed it did. It was obvious from their first song that these guys were up for it too, as they proceeded to the play the gig at full steam. The drums seemed to have this Fridmann tuning and battered sound which is a huge part of the record and now their sound. Although these guys are young they played very tightly and those moments of the record where we are presented with full on synths, slamming drums and dance-like basslines were delivered with complete devotion which was reflected in the crowds reaction by going completely mental and jumping around the place, bouncing off the walls. Some of the songs were ended with long jam style outros which gave the audience a glimpse into the roots of the band.
The encore was really great. After being treat to some new material the main two guys came back out to give us a karaoke version of Electric Feel, which you can see a video of here. Then the rest of the band came out and swapped instruments and seemed to jam out some early Pink Floyd vibes which brought the whole night to a great end.
I got meself a nice red MGMT t-shirt and took a stroll home along the fresh sea front as it approached midnight.
A great Monday!
- Matthew
After sound-check I got to meet up with Andrew from the band as we stood at the waters edge of Brighton beach on a glorious Monday afternoon. We threw stones across the water as I explained to him about Brightons two piers and Brighton itself which he really liked and hopes to visit again in August. I also got to speak to him about their work with Dave Fridmann on the album which he said was a 'perfect match for them'.
The gig kicked off later on that day with the band Florence and the Machine. I really enjoyed this band, all three of them (no bassist) but she had an amazing voice which was capable of delivering any range of vocals with what seemed to be without any effort at all. Shouting one second and then whispering the next, the expression she is able to deliver just on her own meant no escape from the fact that every man in the audience wanted to marry her.
Brighton digital is a nice venue with a sound system that is simply fantastic, better than Shepherds Bush Empire as I found out from Weens recent gig earlier this month. The venue has reasonably priced drinks (very important) and plenty of room within and a free cloakroom!
MGMT took to the stage with a crowd now jam packed into the venue with myself at the front. Everyone was very excited and I have to say I was too. The main question I had on my mind was 'is it going to sound like the album'? and indeed it did. It was obvious from their first song that these guys were up for it too, as they proceeded to the play the gig at full steam. The drums seemed to have this Fridmann tuning and battered sound which is a huge part of the record and now their sound. Although these guys are young they played very tightly and those moments of the record where we are presented with full on synths, slamming drums and dance-like basslines were delivered with complete devotion which was reflected in the crowds reaction by going completely mental and jumping around the place, bouncing off the walls. Some of the songs were ended with long jam style outros which gave the audience a glimpse into the roots of the band.
The encore was really great. After being treat to some new material the main two guys came back out to give us a karaoke version of Electric Feel, which you can see a video of here. Then the rest of the band came out and swapped instruments and seemed to jam out some early Pink Floyd vibes which brought the whole night to a great end.
I got meself a nice red MGMT t-shirt and took a stroll home along the fresh sea front as it approached midnight.
A great Monday!
- Matthew