My ears are still ringing. Why? Well, because 12 hours ago MGMT finished their sold out show at 9:30 Club. Overall, it was great; the kind of show that D.C. needs to see on a more frequent basis. Before we get into the particulars, let’s talk about some numbers. A sold out show at 9:30 Club is 1,200 people, times $15 a ticket, is $18,000. Not a bad haul for MGMT, the openers and the club. But they were not the only ones who profited from the gig. While the tickets originally sold for $15, on the night of the show they were selling on Craigslist for asking prices of up to $150. A memorable ticket request for the concert read, “Wanted-2 MGMT tix-Won’t pay more than $60. Don’t be a greedy prick-$60.” Sadly, the logic of that plea was lost on the majority of latecomers, and many Greedy Pricks got their way.

On approach to the club, two large, bearded bouncers quizzed a couple of high school kids about how much they paid for their tickets. When the lads stuttered and fumbled in their pockets, they were summarily escorted around the corner to a more formal interrogation area. They were never heard from again. Let that be a lesson: buy early and lie freely.

Violens, an opener, was kind enough to schedule their set around pre-gaming activities, and thank god, because it was fun. They recalled the best intentions of The Smiths and Tears for Fears, but in a more contemporary way, occasionally reminiscent of Muse or Lansing-Dreiden cranked to eleven. Violens had an annoying habit of ending their songs abruptly while on a teetering high. As one friend put it, “It’s like being on the metro when it stops short.” Regardless, they showed potential. Expect them to be headlining their own tour in 2009.

Photo by fyunkie