MGMT, Pond

Thu 10 Mar 2011 ,

Pop

They're not getting any better at this "live" thing, really.

First published on 17 Jan 2011. Updated on 29 Apr 2011.

This event has finished

Review: Critics were generally harsh in their assessment of last year's Congratulations, though you'd assume on the basis of this sold-out show that the fans disagreed. However, as the night went on, it seemed ever more apparent that the crowd were holding out for the nostalgic pleasures of their hit-heavy debut Oracular Spectacular.

The band's musicianship was never in doubt and the more hypnotic sections of the Congratulations-heavy set seemed to send much of the audience into a trance (helped by the psychedelic visuals in the background) as hands were raised and heads were nodding. Yet something appeared to be missing; the band lacked energy. Congratulations seems to reflect the groups discomfort with their sudden fame and success, and this gig must have brought it home: Electric Feel, Time to Pretend and Kids sent the crowd into hysterics, as expected, yet the audience was always brought back down by the apparent apathy of the band radiating from the stage.

(Our Music Editor notes: That said, we thought their Congratulations album was pretty damn amazing, hence our five-star review)

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Words by Natassa Costi