Hundreds of electro aficionados gathered at the Phoenix on a drizzly Monday to see The Faint and Ladytron.

The openers – The Faint – came out strong with a more ethereal show both light-wise and musically. Once upbeat electro chords were pumping, the band’s high-energy performance captivated the somewhat-weary audience right from the beginning, proving that they are indeed the band to follow this year.

Their bass and beats gradually increased with every song, which complimented the background graphics and eclectic light show, and brought an electric energy that remained throughout the one-hour performance. They continued to rouse the audience until the end, at which point they transferred the love to the next performers.

About 40 minutes later, Ladytron came out on stage. Their show was tightly-packed and, from the back-corner facing the stage, they looked flashy-expensive and would probably fare well at a stadium venue, rather than the Phoenix. Perhaps the band’s cache is creeping into the mainstream, which they are readily poised for.

Seeing Ladytron at Harbourfront Centre in July 2008 raised the bar high for my expectations of Monday’s show, but sadly they missed this one. They reworked some of their songs for the subtle and sultry crowd, and with the music at times bordering between a slow and the high calibre performance, what one expects from Ladytron did not materialize until the very end.

It is undeniable that Ladytron’s music is edgy and sensual at best, but with The Faint coming out with a rocking high-performance show that eclipsed the headliner, it is one tough act to follow and Ladytron were left lagging.

Written by Chris Jai Centeno

Photography by Joyce Wong