MGMT, Pond @ Enmore Theatre,Sydney (5/3/11)

Mon 14th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

MGMT aren’t exactly renowned for their live prowess. The band’s 2008 Australian tour was marred by sound problems and insipid performances. However, a lot has changed since 2008 for MGMT. The psychedelic revivalists’ second major-label album was released last year to critical acclaim, but was unanimously regarded as having no commercial viability. As a result of this, the band has downsized their shows from massive concert halls to semi-intimate theatres. Moreover, they are no longer newcomers to the international touring circuit, having spent the last three years almost constantly on the road. But the question remains – have these changes made any difference to MGMT’s live performances?

The short answer is no. MGMT is still the same band we saw in 2008. Each member remained glued to their designated spot on the stage for almost the entirety of the set. However, one significant difference is apparent; this time around, the group’s unenthusiastic performance seems like more of a conscious choice, while in 2008 it appeared to be the result of a lack of confidence.

The New York quintet opened their set with the acoustic ballad Pieces of What – a somewhat odd choice, and one that a large portion of the crowd appeared bemused by. The band then proceeded to work their way through a ninety-minute setlist, drawing equally from their breakthrough debut, and their adventurous follow-up album. The material from Congratulations worked well in a live setting, with the band’s loose sound allowing for improvisation and extended jams. But the tracks from the group’s debut weren’t reproduced quite as perfectly, with the instrumentation often sounding messy and amateurish.

The majority of the audience didn’t appear overly impressed by MGMT’s performance, only coming alive when the band launched into hits Kids, Electric Feel and Time to Pretend. The crowd repeated lines like “This is our decision, to live fast and die young” with conviction, however ironically they may have originally been intended.

Occansionally, the musicians on stage clicked, and treated the audience to a short burst of energy and euphoria, but it was still nowhere near enough to forgive the mess that was made of the bulk of the set.

It seems like MGMT could use a lesson or two from their support act, Pond. Pond is essentially Tame Impala (the groups have three members in common) minus the international hype and propensity to shoegazing. The band’s sound is remiscent of 70s psych-rock, and they perform with an element of irony, as well as truckloads of energy – a quality that MGMT could have used much more of.