MGMT's Crowning Moment: Bonnaroo Headliners
It Happened Last Night
MGMT / Photo by Michael Didyoung
The warnings were abundant.
"YOU NEED TO GET THERE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EARLY!"
Backstage before Nine Inch Nails' 1 A.M. performance Saturday night at the Which stage, as the band members marched between tour buses like warlords from some distant galaxy in their futuristic all-black get-ups, a pixie-like brunette was talking about MGMT's late-night set -- and so was everybody else. The Brooklyn psychedelic jesters were playing across the festival grounds at the That Tent in two hours, and the hype for the show had reached Bonnaroo ubiquity. This same warning has been on repeat, backstage at almost every show, all day long.
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Sorry, Mr. Springsteen and Mr. Anastasio: MGMT were headlining Bonnaroo -- and everybody knew it.
Forty-five minutes before MGMT went on, the backstage artist area had been put on lockdown and the crowd -- who, thanks to a feat of scheduling surely in MGMT's contract, had no competing shows to distract them -- was growing. And when the boys finally took the stage and the first skittering beat of "Destrokk" broke over the speakers, the whole place lit up like a lava lamp, with multi-colored glow sticks shooting light in every direction. People were dancing. Some were crying (sensory overload?). Sixteen-year-old Jeff from Pittsburgh, standing by his lonesome toking a bowl, was a little shocked: "Whoa…. This is like some intergalactic carnival or something, right?"
Actually, yeah.
MGMT -- core duo Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden -- have been playing the same 10 songs from their major label debut, Oracular Spectacular, for the past three years. And they could probably play them for 30 more.
The pair -- fleshed out to a five-piece for this show -- have taken their groovy psych-pop gems about Armageddon from their Wesleyan dorm rooms to Bonnaroo prime time and somehow managed to reinvent themselves as the ultimate festival band along the way: their music is ambient enough for the dub, DJ, and electro crowd; their hipster following is fawning and undying; the hippies love their noodling guitar and paisley outfits; and the random Booker T-lovin' old-timers just want to gawk at the whole spectacle. The Boss dished out some big talk about building "the house of love," but MGMT, well, they actually went and built the damn thing.
The band debuted a pair of new songs -- one being an untitled piano-led track that recalled the bright psychedelia and flowing arrangements of the Zombies' The Odyssey and the Oracle. The other, "Congratulations," was a more standard MGMT fare (catchy synths, sing-along vocals) and is also the title track off their next album.
At one point, Chairlift's Caroline Polachek joined them onstage to sing on a cover of 1980s mega-hit "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday, a group fronted by Aimee Mann. It sounded great -- even from some 150 yards away, packed in tight next to two curious fans who were stretching for a view from on top of a dumpster.
"Kids" was the show's high point (followed closely by "Electric Feel"). When the pulsing, airy keys kicked in, a gigantic roar let out. A group of youngsters cut open their 10-foot-long, glowing rods, flinging the nuclear green contents onto the crowd around them.
At Bonnaroo a stain isn't just a stain, it's a keepsake.
MGMT setlist:
"Destrokk"
"Future Reflections"
"4th Dimensional"
"Pieces of What"
"Dan Treacy"
"Of Moons, Birds..."
"Weekend Wars"
"Time To Pretend"
"Electric Feel"
"Voices Carry" (Til Tuesday cover)
"It's Working"
"The Youth"
"The Handshake"
Encore:
"Teenage Lust"
"Kids"
"Congratulations"
14 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Anonymous
06.26.09 1:40 PM
ok so everyone bitching about mgmts show, no one left the show, idk what people are talking about, the crowd went back all the way to the shops and vendors which I had never seen a crowd that even came close to being that big at a tent.
And all these people bitching about the sound after they hopped from NIN, did you get there in time to get a good spot cause I'm sure the band did not intend for people who showed up late and stood way away from the tent to really be able to hear the sound good, the tents are designed for the sound to stay in the tent so the sound doesn't bleed to the other tents where other bands are playing!!!
Everyone who was actually in a reasonably close spot to the tent was having the time of there life, and I only saw 2 or 3 people leave the tent the whole time and two of them were carried out by security cause they wanted to be escorted since they were on drugs and couldn't handle how insane the show was. Everyone else was dancing together and freaking out at how much they changed the songs up and just flat out killed it, I've seen a lot of shows and the energy between the audience and the crowd was so far beyond anything I'd seen. But I agree an Of Montreal/MGMT jam really needs to happen in the future.
- Posted By TIARA
06.24.09 7:33 PM
are you kidding me?
this was the absolute worst show! not just at bonnaroo, but that i've EVER been too. and anyone that i've interviewed has agreed. it was a HUGE disappointment...i was looking forward to dancing my ass off in the middle of the night, but instead the complete lack of energy and horrible sound prompted me to leave early and sleep in the car.several people who had seen them before warned me it was going to disappointing. they should have warned me that it was going to be awful.
- Posted By Anonymous
06.19.09 10:19 AM
lol @ someone saying that mgmt had energy. that was their problem...there WAS NO ENERGY. it was so boring and ugh they sucked. i was so pumped to see them, but a let down! their lack of energy is why everyone left that show. while i was leaving to go back to nin, everyone's face was in pain because of how bad the music was.
- Posted By Anonymous
06.19.09 10:13 AM
are you kidding me? mgmt WAS the talk of bonnaroo, but only out of disappointment. everyone i talked to told me the same thing: "we left nin to go see mgmt, but they were awful so we went back to nin." it was the worst show of bonnaroo. they were clearly on some drug, couldnt play, the sound was WAY too low, and the singer couldnt sing at all (which is why the sound was probably too low). they played their ~new song~, which they even said wasnt even finished yet! why would they play something only to tell the crowd "don't listen to the lyrics". the lyrics were the least of their problem: it sounded like the beach boys before pet shop on acid. thats how bad it was. almost everyone left the mgmt show because it blew that much. they need to get their **** together and get off of the drugs. i did not hear one good thing from this show, but BIG SURPRISE that some big shot magazine is going to give a biased, bull**** review, which was probably paid for by mgmt.
- Posted By Anonymous
06.19.09 3:30 AM
So Kevin Barnes played the same day and at neither Of Montreal or MGMT sets did Blikk Fang appear? A Blikk Fang/MGMT/Of Montreal play till sunrise set was so in the making and prolly happened in a cooler Alternate Universe. In that one I bet even the Boss crowd surfed.
THEY HAVE TWO ALBUMS
Srsly y cant music evolve beyond copyright. I would have loved to hear Money To Burn Hot Love Drama We Dont Care but they can't play it now that they're MGMT? I do wish to see them again in a 2am slot which is prolly only possible @ bonnaroo? They were great from the 3rd row but I do agree they could have brought more. They were awesome but it was like an LSD trip that got just got started was whacked with some Thorazine
- Posted By Anonymous
06.18.09 10:17 PM
We all get home from bonnaroo and proceed to INSIST that our personal favorite band was the best-hands-down-no-question-you-shoulda-been-there performance. I've heard it all... Springsteen, NIN, Phish, Snoop, Beastie Boys, MGMT, Oakenfold, moe.
Let's just chill and acknowledge they were all awesome.
- Posted By Keith Warther
06.18.09 2:13 PM
You gotta be kidding me Spin? These assholes suck!
I've seen them 4 times now, including the Bonnaroo 09 set that this story is about.
Obviously they can draw a crowd. What does that matter when most of the crowd is disappointed by their live show?
Out of the 4 times I've seen them I've been highly disappointed. It's just a little discouraging when on record their music is so upbeat, happy and danceable. Their stage presence and energy just seem to be lacking in the live show.
This article almost makes me think that Mr. William Goodman wasn't at this show, or just bought into the hype went back to his press RV and typed this up in the cool of the AC.Here are the 4 times they have let me down:
1.) Opening for Grand Buffett and of Montreal 40 Watt Halloween 2007
2.) Coachella 2008
3.) Bonnaroo 2008
4.) Bonnaroo 2009MGMT: The ultimate letdown
- Posted By Anonymous
06.17.09 9:40 PM
I watched that show jam packed about ten feet from the stage and the energy was so palpible it was unbelieavable. There was an esoteric energy suspended between the performers and among the audience that was undiscribable. The late night, coupled with the right band and hundreds of stoned kids made it my best bonnaroo experience, with the exception of phish, hands down. When they played Kids it felt as if we were all gelling, coallesque, bouncing, and jiving to this anthem of our generation, as if we were all thrown into this perfect psychodelic prom and everyone was tuned into the same heart pounding melody.
- Posted By Anonymous
06.17.09 5:05 PM
Wow, really? MGMT was the most disappointing show I saw at Bonnaroo. They came out flat with absolutely no energy. They busted out two new songs from the album they are working on and said, "don't listen to the lyrics they are not ready yet...." WTF?
I was wondering how they would fill 1.5hours when they only have one album, I guess they do it by playing unfinished songs and a cover....although it was cool to see the chick from Chairlift.
Finally as the show was winding down "we have 3 songs left" is when then started picking up the energy level.
I can't believe no one is writing about Of Montreal's ridiculous show, why didn't they get the 2am slot? At least they brought the noise, had a crazy theatrical show going in the background and finished by destroying all their instruments....
sheep
- Posted By LG
06.16.09 6:52 PM
Wow, I totally agree. In my eyes they were the headliners as well. I finally got the money to go to Roo, and enjoyed everything about it, but especially these boys. I got there real early, heard Yeasayer & loved them so I got a great spot & have a newfound awesome band. As it got hotter and more crowded, all of my super friends left me, but I was still loving life more than ever. Made friends with a tall boy dressed as a Teletubbie & we pushed forward. The entire thing was one of the best things I have ever experienced. The beats, the song with Caroline and the new stuff was all just grand. You guys are so inspiring, smart, sarcastic and just genius really, yeah really. The only way it could have gotten better would have had the concert last until the sun had well risen, or if I could have hung out with all of you. Now I am offically addicted & shall be at every one of your shows that I can possibly attend. Thanks, and I like praying mantises as well.
- Posted By kata2654
06.15.09 11:49 PM
I actually bought tickets so my daughter could see MGMT. They were the only reason we went to Bonnaroo. Not that we didn't enjoy other groups, but for those marketeers...MGMT can draw a crowd. We got to That Tent at 8:30 PM to preserve a spot on the rail and we were probably fans # 20 & 21. The show was awesome coming from someone who wasn't under the influence. IF MGMT reads this, she was the girl that climbed the fence after the OF MONTREAL show to say Hi to you guys. You really made her day and inspire her in her own music. She plays your songs all the time on her guitar...but I must say, she is a better singer. Anyway...I wanted to see NIN as I am a long tome fan but MGMT won the toss, sorry Trent.
10.24.09 3:57 PM
Ben and Andrew are amazing!!!!! They will be even bigger! Just watch.