PHOTOS BY JESS LEE

In one of the band's first shows in the States in more than four years, Underworld's frontman Karl Hyde was the everyman's raver as he and longtime beatmaster Rick Smith descended upon the Hollywood Bowl Sunday evening (Sept. 9). The London-based techno ingénues delivered a fierce two-hour set, which was humbly opened by fellow Londoner, renowned DJ, remixer, and producer Paul Oakenfold. From there, an eclectic mix of old-and-nu school ravers alike, with their buddies the dub gnomes and trancing glow-stick aliens, heedlessly gyrated in the confines of the narrow standing space to redesigns of the band's most famous songs. Underworld's delivered teasers of rhythmic samples from their upcoming album, Oblivion with Bells. Hyde, seemingly thrilled to be there, wielded his guitar throughout new cut "Glam Bucket," and perfected his signature knob-twisting ways on the house-induced sonic of "Crocodile." The clanging, hyperventilated percussion mixed with "King of Snake," and a forced beat/vocal dichotomy of the groundbreaking classic "Born Slippy" gave an aggressive, interactive edge to the originals, but it couldn't have made a difference for a crowd already so vested in nostalgia.

Whether or not Underworld's return will gift a well-needed renaissance within the global electronica circuit is yet to be seen, however the genre's everlasting M.O. remains: it will never take your picture while you're dancing, it will move beyond genre-blending crossovers, and most importantly, it will do what it has always promised to do: bring the dance at any cost. Underworld certainly proved that. 

We asked: In light of Underworld's grooves in the 2006 drama Breaking and Entering, and the 2003 vampire flick, which shares the same name as the band, what song would be on your personal soundtrack and why?

Name: Cora Ripatti
Age: 29
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Vocalist
"Underworld's 'Skym' -- it's off beat for the average Underworld fan."

Name: Dominique Cumbe
Age: 34
Hometown: West Hollywood, CA
Occupation: Realtor
"Prodigy's 'Speedway' -- best band with the best tune in the world."

Name: Jeff Himmel
Age: 38
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Special effects makeup
"Pink Floyd, 'Wish You Were Here' -- I like where I am, I know who I am when I listen to it."

Name: Jeremy Aiello
Age: 35
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Occupation: Sculptor
"'A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From the Centre of the Ultraworld' by the Orb because the 18-minute song is where the ambient movement all started."

Name: Coco Aiello
Age: 38
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Occupation: Accountant
"Marilyn Manson, 'National Hate Anthem' -- it chills me out when I want to kill people."

Name: Maya Halfon
Age: 23
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Music marketing
"Kraak & Smaak's 'Keep Me Home' -- it's such a great summer song, and the video is all about alienation."

Name: Tally Duke Floyd
Age: 43
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Occupation: Art director for television commercials
"'Turn it Up' by Robots in Disguise because I love sexy robots RIGHT NOW."

Name: Erin Ashlann
Age: 26
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Occupation: Financial advisor
"Mickey Avalon, 'So Rich, So Pretty' -- 'cause it's so rich and so pretty!"

Hyde and crew gettin' 'Slippy' / Photo by Jess Lee

It's a light show hypnosis at the Bowl / Photo by Jess Lee

Underworld manning the decks / Photo by Jess Lee

DJ Paul Oakenfold / Photo by Jess Lee