One of the highlights of my concert experiences, MGMT’s 3 A.M. set at Bonnaroo during the Summer of 2009 might as well have been a giant victory lap for the band after the success of their debut album “Oracular Spectacular.” My friends and I arrived to the tent more than three hours before the duo was scheduled to take the stage, and already the crowd was eight to ten people deep despite acts like Bruce Springsteen, Nine Inch Nails, and David Byrne in progress at the same time. By the time the band hit the stage at 3, there was no room to breathe and the anticipation boiled over into a frenzy in the crowd. The band lackadaisically went through their more hazy, psychadelic numbers during the first half of the set, delaying gratification for fans eager to hear smash singles, “Kids,” “Electric Feel,” and “Time To Pretend.” But, as soon as the band played “The Handshake,” and rolled through their hit songs — even pausing to preview the song “Congratulations” more than 9 months before their 2nd album of the same name would drop — the show instantly became one of the most memorable shows not only to hear, but to experience with all the senses.
MGMT
October 24, 2010