44117

MGMT (only) played songs written for 'All' @ the Guggenheim (pics & video)

photos by Kurt Christensen

MGMT

MGMT‘s trippy electronica beats… fit right into the equation, although a lot of the crowd wasn’t feeling it. I overheard one (probably Manhattanite) guy complain, “Give me something with a melody, play songs!”

The set was MGMT’s debut of totally new tracks that they created specifically for the event and were inspired by the Cattelan installation. While at times the songs were a bit too obvious (one piece with electronic organ sounds was clearly meant for Cattelan’s infamous sculpture of John Paul II killed by a meteorite), other tracks had catchy beats and little to no vocals so that one song smoothly blended into the next.

The light show was what really made the performance. Yet it seemed as I looked around and saw people talking amongst themselves and standing still during the show, that this just wasn’t the right crowd to really get into it. The event was missing some key elements: dancing, maybe some drugs and actually more hipsters. Taken out of the stiff setting of a gala, MGMT’s unique collaboration with Cattelan would have reached a whole other level.” -[Hyperallergic]

MGMT played two nights at the Guggenheim Museum (an 11/10 private party, and an 11/11 show open to the public). They focused exclusively on compositions inspired by Maurizio Cattelan: All and didn’t delvie into their prior works at all. Those expecting the hits were not stoked.

Videos from the show, a video with more details on the ideas behind the music, and more pictures from the 11/11 show, below…


MGMT at the Guggenheim Museum Nov 10 and 11, 2011

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT

MGMT at the Guggenheim 11/10/11



MGMT at the Guggenheim 11/11/11