With a stark interior and bad acoustics, I think the Showbox Sodo is better suited for a hoedown and square dance than a live show. So I have to really like a band to go hear them at this venue. I really, really dig Ladytron. The crowd that was getting douched by the rain while standing in the ticket line must really like them too. I was as soggy as an unfinished bowl of cereal by the time I got inside.
Being an all-ages show (don’t want the kids staying out too late and worrying mommy and daddy) the music kicked off early which didn’t give the crowd much time to warm up. When the band synthed things off with “Black Cat,” those near the stage began swaying while others closer to the bar focused on their cocktails. Meanwhile, I was being sucked in by the red and white flashes that blinked mesmerizingly like airport runway lighting. With each flash I became more entranced as the lights called to me “Lady . . . . tron . . . Lady . . . . tron.” God love electropop bands and their light shows.
Because of the lighting effects, most of the group was left in silhouette giving the girls time to shine. Hey, the band is called Ladytron after all. They followed up the opener with a few singles like “Runaway” and “Ghosts,” where Helen and Mira worked their android-like song delivery to perfectly compliment the cold detachment of the backing beats. It’s really no surprise that a group whose members represent industrial England and a former Soviet republic have mastered such an automated analogue sound.
Helen’s voice was strong above the driving bass, if only with a little less of its usual lovely pixie airiness, but Mira’s vocals were harder to distinguish and her Bulgarian lyrics sounded like just a mushed up version of English. On “Soft Power,” lines like “We’re not sleeping at the wheel. The wheel is turning the machine that kills. For us,” sounded so sweet coming from Helen’s cute mouth. She’s like Jane Wiedlin but with more fang.
By the time they climaxed with an extended version of “Seventeen,” most of the crowd was dancing and arms were raised, stabbing the air with the signature electronica hand jab. Then Ladytron took us on a soft downward ride with fantastic versions of “Sugar” and “Tomorrow.” The only time they disappointed was during the encore. After killing it on “Destroy Everything You Touch,” they left the stage leaving us all wanting more. Hey, what about “Blue Jeans”?
Yes, the set showcased songs from the last two albums, Velocifero and Witching Hour, but there was also a satisfying smattering of stuff from the early days. Who knows what we’ll get on the next tour now Ladytron is blowing up and working with the likes of Christina Aguilera. Maybe they’ll do a totally awesome remake of “Genie in a Bottle!”
As the crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk after the show, I heard someone say the performance was lackluster and the band needed to interact more with the audience. Straight up Seattle, you gotta shake it to make it. It seems hipsters are too cool to dance. Or maybe the skinny jeans are a little too restrictive. Whatever the excuse, if you stand immobile, arms crossed, looking like you’re waiting to be entertained, why would the band go the extra mile for your lame ass? Get into it already. Let’s make concert-going a give and take relationship.
DOWNLOAD: Ladytron - Tomorrow (Jim Abbiss Remix Radio #1) (MP3) or Follow us for more Ladytron MP3s (Twitter)
he is amazing bro his style can not be touched....some people dont know what he is talking about caz u dont do what he does he is sickkk bra
by dylyn on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 11.59 am from the entry: Wiz Khalifa: Burn After Rolling (Mixtape)
Wow,Great post.Thanks for sharing with us. land wi
by wisconsin land on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 09.53 am from the entry: of Montreal + Gang Gang Dance - Orpheum Theatre (Boston, MA; Oct. 30, 2008)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
the last few pics look like the faint. Anyword on that?
(ladytron 1-7 + the faint 8-13)
Love the photos!
The Faint were crap.