MGMT - Red Rocks

We arrived before five to ensure time for a quality tailgate before the openers took the stage at sold out Red Rocks. As we took down a case of Session beers, the lots were just beginning their four hour journey to capacity; soon though, packs of teenaged hipsters were scampering around showing off their neon flannel and 48 hour mustaches. It was a hoodie and jeans type of night with foreboding clouds across the entire horizon. This did not fit the lineup particularly well: MGMT is more of a warm weather band, so a 90 degree scorcher would have been ideal.



There are other hot day bands that fit in this category such as Dirty Projectors, Outkast, and Avett Brothers; sweat belongs at these shows. Cold weather bands such as Pearl Jam, Band of Horses, and My Morning Jacket can rock through the rain. I want to see them wearing a flannel or hoodie. MGMT fits the hot day group much more, although they didn't let Mother Earth stop them on this night. The show kicked off a six month long World Tour, so there will be plenty of hot days in their future.

A common criticism of MGMT is that they aren't any good live, but this is mainly a commentary on people's expectations. As something other than a dorm room experiment, MGMT is green around the edges and still gaining the chops needed for this kind of gig. When I saw them at Bonnaroo '08 (as upstarts) and '09 (as late night packed house), I was looking for an hour long party, not an epic legend. Each time I was quite satisfied. (Note: I wouldn't recommend watching this whole video. Just pay attention to the sparse banter and crowd reaction to "Time to Pretend." When they play those songs the place just explodes!)



Last night, they powered through the rain, delivered a performance that transcended their three hits, and proved that they can play their songs differently than how they sound on the albums. They tilted a lot of their songs towards the crescendos, which enlivened the audience. By spacing out the Big 3, songs like opener "Weekend Wars" and "The Youth" had room to breathe. Their set list was an equal mix of Oracular Spectacular and Congratulations, and the confidence to close out their set and encore with newer songs indicates they have a commitment to stretching the depth of their catalogue. This is very encouraging.



Just because none of their new songs have the omnipresence of "Kids" doesn't mean they are regressing. The first career arc comparison that comes to mind for MGMT is Nirvana. They exploded with a neoteric album about youth, and followed it with a reactionary, well plotted album protesting their own fame. At this point a fresher comparison is needed, because they don't seem like the suicide or burnout types. There are two roads they could go down. The common road is the plateau. More interesting would be expansion, modeled by Radiohead, treating their fan base to consistent artistic growth. The Red Rocks show was a test and they definitely passed.

While the show solidified MGMT as a legitimate big stage headliner, I still have more questions. Will MGMT developing a supporting cast with the capability of turning them into a juggernaut? Will they maintain the ambition necessary to continue transforming their sound? For how long will "Kids" and "Time to Pretend" be dance party staples? Which MGMT guy will go solo first?



Setlist: Weekend Wars, Song for Dan Treacy, Flash Delirium, The Youth, Electric Feel, Pieces of What, Siberian Breaks, Time to Pretend, I Found a Whistle, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, The Handshake, Brian Eno Encore: Kids, It's Working, Congratulations

A note on the openers: It turns out that a lot of people don't yet know about Tame Impala or Janelle Monae, because it took awhile for the bleachers to fill up. Tame Impala did not have the theatrics or big stage experience to fully capture the attention of the masses, but I was satisfied with their moody grooves and open air sound, while noting that they need to develop their vocals. Janelle Monae has enough style to enliven a Bridge competition. She was introduced by a hype man and ensured that everyone stayed on their feet as she shimmied and shaked like a female Michael Jackson with her band shredding like Van Halen in support.