Is there a better way to spend Valentine’s Day than getting to watch Spiritualized perform their crowning achievement, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, live and in person? What about if the ticket price included a VIP open bar party before the show? Well…that’s how I spent my evening, and it was incredible.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been FIFTEEN YEARS since I first saw Spiritualized, at Radio City Music Hall opening for Radiohead on the final night of the OK Computer tour. And how fitting that the band’s set last night concluded with “Cop Shot Cop” (well…it’s the last track on the album…it was an inevitability, but bear with me), not only my favorite song (weird choice, I know) but the first I ever heard them play. There was an absolutely insane amount of people on stage, and from where I was seated on the floor I couldn’t even count everybody. But there were at least 20 people up there. Eight singers, an orchestra that had to be at least that big if not bigger, plus the full band (three guitars, bass, drums) and a second percussionist. I don’t know for sure what the total number was, but it was definitely an impressive feat.
By the way, last night was the opening night for the newly restored United Artists Theater adjacent to the brand-spankin’ new Ace Hotel downtown. The theater looks beautiful, and the sound, stage, and lights were phenomenal last night. There was a fairly strict no photography policy in place, but I managed to sneak a few quick shots in because apparently I’m just too much of a badass to follow the rules.
Just kidding. But how could you NOT want to memorialize such an austere and joyous occasion? C’MON!
Setlist:
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Come Together
I Think I’m In Love
All Of My Thoughts
Stay With Me
Electricity
Home Of The Brave
The Individual
Broken Heart
No God Only Religion
Cool Waves [MP3]
Cop Shoot Cop
***
Out Of Sight
Spread Your Wings
Oh Happy Day
