Ladytron has always been in a precarious position: seems they've either been about to be huge or to fade into obscurity forever. Oh, people have liked them well enough. Yet, they have liked them just well enough: destined not to be forgotten but never propelled overnight from playing church basements to being the Arcade Fire.
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If Tuesday night's sold-out show at the Fillmore in San Francisco is any indication, those days are over. Ladytron's time has come.
Playing a set that highlighted previous albums like Light & Magic and Witching Hour as well as a healthy dose of the upcoming Velocifero (out June 3), Ladytron showed just how solid the group was in the beginning and some amazing things yet to come.
Set in front of a lighting display worthy of Madonna (that's a compliment), the Liverpool quartet (plus some extra stage musicians) pounded through tracks from their new album including "Ghosts" (video, right) and "Runaway" before launching into old fan faves like "Playgirl," "Destroy Everything You Touch" and "Seventeen" keeping the floor dancing along the whole time.
Singers and instrumentalists Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo, looking like an electro-pop Tegan and Sara, led the show, trading lead vocals and essentially drawing the eyes (and camera phones) of everyone in the room.
And the crowd ate it up, some probably too much considering the sweaty red faces in attendance. Regardless, the energy was non-stop for the entirety of the more than hour-and-a-half set.
Some have said that Ladytron can be too stoic on stage, surrounded by an elaborate show but not really putting on one. Fair enough. But the black clothes and stern expressions are part of the shtick, and stage banter isn't everyone's idea of a good time, especially when they came to dance.
The members of the band shouldn't rest on their laurels, though, particularly when Nettwerk labelmates, Datarock are opening. Why? Because Datarock will do things like offer to sex-up everyone in the front three rows. And lead massive sing-a-longs. And close their set, 50 percent of present members shirtless, with a cover of the Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes classic "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." Yes, the Dirty Dancing song, and yes they somehow find a way to play it that doesn't evoke memories of prom and ultimately make it enjoyable.
Don't believe it? Ladytron and Datarock, are touring the U.S. throughout May and June (they're in Los Angeles Thursday and Friday), go find out for yourself.
Ladytron took a while to where they are, but it was worth the wait.
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