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MGMT at the Guggenheim impresses
Alex Zhu, X
Contributing Writer
“MGMT. Four letters, five minds, sixth sense, second sight? Rock ‘n’ Roll is 50 years old, but we’re still speaking in tongue.”
- Sonic Boom producer of Congratulations.
MGMT, best known for their songs “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and “Kids,” explored their psychedelic roots in their 2010 sophomore album Congratulations. MGMT has been highly praised for their studio oeuvre and their performances by magazines such as Rolling Stone.
On November 10 and 11, MGMT played at the Guggenheim Museum in support of a new Maurizio Cattelan exhibition that features a giant horse, dangling from the ceiling.
Having been to two of MGMT’s shows in the past, I thought that I knew what I was getting into: a lot of fan girls who obsess over the band members, parents with teenagers, and the occasional hipster lurking in the crowd. Instead, the crowd largely consisted of artists based in the Brooklyn area, college kids from the city, a few teenagers, older folks, or hipsters with hipster beanies.
Aside from the eclectic audience, the whole organization of the event defied my expectations. Everyone waited outside the museum until 9:00 PM. Then people sprinted to the top of the spirals or to the front of the stage. I was lucky to be front row. The announcer said that the performance was going to be 45 minutes long. I thought to myself, “Wow, this must be an awesome 45-minute set, since I paid 40 bucks and waited a seeming eternity!”
My high expectations were met.
All five band members walked out on stage, clad in their signature multicolored suits. The spirals of the Guggenheim were lined with neon light beams that shot up and down the various levels. The hanging artwork from the exhibition, lights, and other features lent themselves to a both visually appealing and disorienting atmosphere. Junior Olivia Melodia, who also attended the concert, described the general effect as “trippy.” The band had a screen played in front of another screen that displayed even more neon colors. It was certainly the most colorful concert that I have ever attended. And I would have to agree with Melodia: It was also the trippiest. The smoke from cigarettes of the other concertgoers made the atmosphere feel totally surreal.
The performance was essentially a jam session. The band members played around, using instruments that they would normally not have. The music ranged from soft and tranquil to heavily distorted and incomprehensible. It was definitely an interesting break from their usual routine of playing “Kids” to 100,000 people on a beach. There was no break during this 45-minute set-list, making it one of the longest songs that I have ever experienced. I was impressed by how nicely the music flowed without a single awkward break, thought it was clear that the band was improvising the entire time.
For some people, the Maurizio Cattelan exhibition appeared to be the highlight of the night, and they were much more interested in the artwork. In my opinion, the visuals complemented the feel of the music perfectly.
Although I was enthralled by the music and the entire ambiance of the show, two of my other classmates and fellow attendees, sophomores Thomas Ridge and Zachary Freedman, thought that “they were super weird” and did not appreciate the artistic direction MGMT had taken.
Regardless, the show was a triumph on the band’s part. They showed longtime fans like me that achieving widespread popularity has not hindered their ability to make great psychedelic music. I would see MGMT perform again at a venue like this in a heartbeat.
Posted by Spokesman Editors
on December 21, 2011. Filed under Arts,December 2011.
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