“Lights And Music” were on everyone’s mind on Wednesday night as Australian electropop darlings Cut Copy played their hit single and many more from In Ghost Colours to an adrenaline-fueled, capacity crowd at the Metro.
The night marked Cut Copy’s fourth Chicago show of 2008, and it was clear to see that the band has grown both in popularity and stage presence. Their dance-heavy electro sounds and new light rig (which they shared with tourmates The Presets) kept fists pumping and feet jumping for almost the entirety of their hour-long set.
The group opened with “Nobody Lost, Nobody Found”—a track that would be equally at home in New Order’s catalogue—before really heating up the crowd with “Out There On The Ice.” Unfortunately, they lost some of the thunder soon after with “Time Stands Still,” a somewhat dull track from their debut album, Bright Like Neon. But the majority of the audience stuck through it, and was quickly rewarded with the much more pleasing “So Haunted.” From there, momentum and intensity only grew, finally reaching an explosive climax with “Lights And Music” and “Hearts On Fire” at the show’s end.
Fellow Australians, electro duo The Presets, could have easily been confused for a headlining act the way they had the crowd dancing prior to Cut Copy earlier in the night. The strength of the music thankfully overcame singer and keyboardist Julian Hamilton’s lack of charisma. Hot pink blazer (a la Brandon Flowers, circa Hot Fuss) notwithstanding, Hamilton could stand to develop a more charming stage persona; now, one can’t help but feel like he’s just pushing buttons. Regardless, The Presets were a much better match and far more entertaining than Cut Copy’s inexplicably popular spring opener, The Black Kids.
Compared to Cut Copy’s previous back-to-back outings at the Abbey Pub, it’s clear to see that they understood the raised expectations that came with selling out a place like the Metro– and much to the crowd’s delight, Cut Copy met them completely. More lights? Check. More music? Check. More fun? Definitely.
Related Links:
Cut Copy and The Presets co-headline tour
Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours
Black Kids to tour this spring with Cut Copy