PHOTOS BY CINDY KOH

Spiritualized frontman Jason Spaceman, a.k.a. Jason Pierce, commingled the "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to" mantra with gospel tinges sans Spacemen 3, and after spending a decade-plus crafting psychedelic space rock with Spiritualized, he's no longer floating in a drug-induced sonic space. Taking to North America for the band's first outing in four years, Spiritualized's Acoustic Mainline tour stopped at Los Angeles' Vista Theater last night (Nov. 12). Opening act Simple Kid, seemingly grateful to be there, prepped the mostly elder indie rock crowd with his acoustic guitar-driven fuzzed-out folk, which also included an adorable cover of Kermit the Frog's "It's Not Easy Being Green" (because he's Irish, and 'green is Irish'). But it wasn't until Spaceman (donning black shades, of course) himself took the stage when the widescreen crimson curtains of the theater glowed to their full capacity.

Accompanied by a four-piece string section and a trio of ladies, Spiritualized redefined such songs like Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You in the End," and offered majestic renditions of "Anything More" and the epic "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space." At the end of the song, Spiritualized received its third -- and not last -- standing ovation of the evening, regardless of whether the audience was present to recount their old junkie days or to celebrate a successful transmutation of heavenly drone.

Either way, the choir and their preacher, Spaceman, illuminated gospel-heavy Amazing Grace tunes like "Lord Let It Rain On Me" before sending the crowd into sonic oblivion during the show's closer, "Oh Happy Day." Spaceman stood up and raised his acoustic guitar to the ceiling before graciously bidding his collected fan base farewell. 

We asked: Which of the band's songs make you feel most Spiritualized?

Name: Bryan Mack
Age: 21
Hometown: Bishop, CA
Occupation: Student/Borders bookseller
"I Think I'm In Love."

Name: Tamar Michelle (DJ Tami)
Age: N/A
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: DJ
"'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space' is a masterpiece. It's like Beethoven's 5th of rock'n'roll. It's a perfect record."

Name: Sean Bate
Age: 34
Hometown: Laguna Beach, CA
Occupation: Art direction/musician
"Come Together."

Name: Piper Ferguson
Age: 37
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Photographer
"'Stop Your Crying' because it's good music for praying."

Name: Mike Prosenko
Age: 40
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Graphic designer
"'Feel Like Goin' Home' because it features Sean Cook on bass."

Name: Darren Rademaker
Age: 46
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Musician/member of the Tide
"'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space' is my favorite song. I've liked them since the very beginning, I hung out with Jason before and it was the most exciting thing I've ever done in my life."

Name: Gary Dickinson
Age: 30
Hometown: Manchester, UK
Occupation: Construction
"'Come Together' gets me to the place I wanna be."

Name: Sophie Mann
Age: 22
Hometown: Sag Harbor, NY
Occupation: Actress
"'Anyway That You Want Me' because it's beautiful."

Name: Jen Grisson
Age: 32
Hometown: Downey, CA
Occupation: Sales rep for Mosquitohead rock t-shirts
"'Oh Happy Day' because it's a spiritual song and I love that about them."

Name: Lyndsey Parker
Age: 37
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Music writer
"'Medication' encapsulates what Spiritualized is all about. It sounds like drugs…in a good way."

Spiritualized 'come together' again / Photo by Cindy Koh

Spaceman and Co. bringin' the 'Cool Waves' / Photo by Cindy Koh

'Electricity' is alive at the Vista Theater / Photo by Cindy Koh

It's a 'Happy Day' for Jason Spaceman / Photo by Cindy Koh

Opener Simple Kid / Photo by Cindy Koh