Usually, a reviewer is the guy or gal with the steno pad, furiously taking notes as enthusiastic throngs are actually enjoying the show and living in the moment. We studiously jot down the set list, observe the crowd, judge the music of the band, all while trying to be a fly on the wall. I walked into the M.I.A. show at the 9:30 Club last night without any intention of writing this review, so there was no pad and pen at work, but that is fine because there is no need for notes to describe a show that was absolutely off the hook.

To many people of South Asian heritage, M.I.A. has played a significant role as far as desi culture is concerned. Yes, we’ve been accepted in a variety of social strata, ranging from convenience store clerks, to doctors, to global icons. Still, the young people of any immigrant community need some presence in popular culture outside of stereotypes or model minority portrayal before they can feel less alien. Though we might not embrace the violent politics she sometimes describes, M.I.A. has provided that popular crossover whether or not she accepts, or even knows of that role. In a couple of her songs she even raps in her native Tamil, and it is a true sign of cultural acceptance that non-desis attempt to sing along.

As for the concert itself, in all honesty, if there is a live recording of this performance out there, there would be no point in listening to it because it probably would miss a lot of what made the show special. There were definitely moments where the performance was loose, and both the lead and backing vocals left something to be desired at points. But M.I.A. is the perfect example of an artist whose live performance depends much more on charisma and energy than any technique, and she had the sellout crowd wrapped around her finger for the entire set.

Photos by Kyle Gustafson.

M.I.A. came on stage with guns blazing, opening with “Bamboo Banga” off her latest release, Kala, and then charged through a 90 minute set along with her D.J., backup singers, and other assorted guests, including a child, a "'90s baby" as M.I.A. called her, who had some serious moves. M.I.A. rolled through choice tracks off both her studio releases and played “Sunshowers”, “Bucky Done Gun”, “Boyz”, "Paper Planes", as well some bonus tracks. If there was a flaw in her stage presence, it was that at points she addressed the crowd as if she was playing in Baltimore, where she is playing tonight.