DMW: Digital Music W...

Shows that occur inside converted warehouses or garage are always bad places for acoustics. Terminal 5 is that such place. Ladytron returned to New York with more confidence than previous turns. First off, they're on a new label with Nettwerk. Second, Velocifero is "Burning Up" (Ha! Get it!!?!?!?!) the charts and is becoming the fastest selling Ladytron album to date.

The opening act was Norwegian band Datarock. The jumped onstage with their signature jumpsuits and got their few faithful fans to scream for joy. The rest of the patrons just stood and watched while the band performed songs "Computer Camp Love", "I Used to Dance With My Daddy".

Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

The band performed a new track called "Snake" which one person from the floor yelled for joy. The band was energetic and knew which side of the venue they were getting the most love from. Ket-Ill jumped off stage and propelled himself to the front row where he took the liberty of dancing amongst the crowd. They tried really hard to get the crowd going. Eventually, the patrons started to loosen up and began dancing to the tune "Fa-Fa-Fa".

Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

They performed for about 30-35 minutes and left the stage. At that point, the venue was cheering (some really cheering for the band, most really cheering that the band was done and that Ladytron is on next). Honestly, I liked Datarock. I wasn't gushing or expecting much from them but their shows are exciting, funny and entertaining. They kinda remind me of NY band Peelander-Z with their high energy hi-jinx and crowd interactivity. I have a feeling I'll be seeing Datarock again.

Ladytron finally took the stage at around 9:30 PM and the patrons got rowdy. There is a song that is playing in the background before the band gets onstage. No one seems to know what that song is. I wish I knew too. At first, I thought it was Bulgarian but fans seem to hear some Chinese. Whatever it is, its really cool and alluring.

Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

They started with "Black Cat" and the bass was just pounding through my body. The sound was really loud and there was no way I would've tolerated it without earplugs. The thing about Ladytron live is that they always wear black on stage. I think to Ladytron, a live gig is more akin to dressing up for a swanky cocktail party rather than a rock show.

Helen Marnie of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

The patrons were dancing to tunes "High Rise", "Ghosts" and fan fave "Seventeen". The setlist was a good mix of classic and new which really got the floor grooving. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't perform "Tomorrow" or "Versus". I really like those songs and wanted to see them performed live - especially to see the Daniel Hunt/Helen Marnie duet in "Versus". I guess the band felt that those tracks would've been slow but it would've been a good test to see how the crowd reacted anyway. I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that. The band doesn't speak much but when they do, its usually a "thank you" or the name of the next tune. Helen actually said that the band is so glad to be back in New York.

The blooper of the night belongs to Mira Aroyo when she told the crowd that the next song was "Deep Blue" but it was actually "Predict the Day". Mira realized the mix-up and looked to Helen and smiled and acknowledged her mea culpa. It was really funny and quite cute to see Mira taking her right palm to her forehead - her "Doh! moment. "Deep Blue" is definitely a song meant to be performed in clubs. Its got that sultry rhythm and haunting lyrics that gets people to really grind their hips on the floor. I witnessed a couple dry humping next to me. I didn't want to notice but they just kept on going and going and I thought well, they got the idea of the song.

I noticed Helen Marnie was having a bit of the monitor sound issue during the first half of the set. I think it was during "I'm Not Scared" that she gave icy glances over to the monitor board off-stage. It was really obvious when she kept raising her right arm to signal for them to turn her up. Not just her sound but keyboards also. After the song, she walked off-stage to get this whole thing sorted and she returned several seconds later to the stage. At least the power didn't go or that Helen's mic wasn't turned down.

Mira Aroyo of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

Mira was really loose and totally dancing, twirling, dancing a jig while performing "Fighting in Built Up Areas". You could see her with a smile on her face as she thanked the crowd repeatedly. Daniel got into it as well. Even though he was stationed in the back, he would occasionally say the next tune. The only member of the band who doesn't have a mic is Reuben Wu. And he's always stationed in the back behind Helen. I did notice their bass player who kinda looked like a double for 1990s era Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. And their touring drummer was tucked in the back where the multitude of lights and strobe lights gave a good portion of us epilepsy.

Daniel Hunt of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

Their encore featured the newest fan fave "Kletva". Helen got really into singing "Burning Up" and I'm venturing a guess that the tune is the next single - that's my guess. I think it was during this song that Ket-Ill from Datarock appeared on stage with his saxophone and performed alongside Helen and Mira. Mira smiled while Helen rocked hard and was smiling at the craziness Ket-Ill brought on stage.

To end the encore, Helen tells the crowd how grateful they are to the people who came out to see them and said something along the lines of, "I know you were all waiting for this...Here's Destroy Everything You Touch!" and the place went nuts. The best part, Helen gets on the drum kit platform and does a semi-jump off to end the song and the tiny cannons positioned at both ends of the stage shot off confetti to the crowd on the floor.

Helen Marnie of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

Crowd showered with confetti - Photo by Amanda Nanawa

And the gig ends and is entered into Terminal 5's archives as one hell of a loud ass show. BTW, Daniel mentioned to the crowd that Debbie Harry was in attendance. That's cool. But I still wanted the band to play "Versus" live. Maybe next time.