Ladytron @ Metro 4/4/9

Taking their turn headlining the Ladytron/The Faint double bill on the night I attended, Ladytron put on a good, if uninspired, show. I've never seen them live before, so wasn't sure what to expect. It certainly wasn't as dancy as expected, and the energy of the band was very low. Again, I don't know if this is per usual.  There was virtually zero banter with the crowd, which is a big pet peave, so that was disappointing. The sound was excellent, however, and the crowd was ready and willing to break out into joyous rocking, but the mood of the band seemed to keep everyone in check.

The Faint @ Metro 4/4/9

Last time I saw The Faint it was at Canopy Club in Urbana, IL. It was terrible. Nothing against Canopy Club, which is a pretty decent venue, especially for central Illinois, but The Faint just didn't draw enough to fill the room. And when the Canopy Club isn't full, it feels like an airplane hanger, especially for a band like The Faint which feeds on the energy of the dancing crowd. 

So, there was a low bar to meet this time.  First time I saw them, was also at the Metro, but that was in support in the far superior Wet from Birth, which made for a superior show.  This time around, it was decent - but because the new album (and the few new songs played) pales in comparison to that masterpiece, it was merely mediocre.