NEW YORK—After enduring hours of sizzling heat in the rave-like atmosphere of the Hard NYC festival on Governors Island on Saturday, even hardcore MIA fans were scrambling for the first boat back to the city by the fifth song of an abysmal set that left concert goers puzzled, upset and even full of pity for what was once one of the brightest stars in world pop music.
MIA was the headliner and big draw for the nine-hour event on a humid day when temperatures soared into the high 90s. But her reputation as an engaging live performer may now be damaged beyond repair.
Fans were shocked and let down by the Sri Lanka-born performer's muddled, unentertaining show. It could have been so much more. Last week, during a slot on David Letterman, MIA performed a chilling live version of her recent driving controversial single and video, "Born Free." But last night, by the fifth song, nearly a third of the crowd proved just how free they were by walking out of the show without regret.
No regret, because Hard NYC wasn't a total waste of time, due to engaging beat-driven sets by top caliber international acts including DJs Skream and Benga, and MC Alpha (from London), quirky, hard-edged, NYC-based guitar-vocal duo Sleigh Bells, and a powerful, in-your-face, anti-PC bludgeoning by South African MC duo Die Antwoord.
In fact it may have been the strength of Die Antwoord's set, falling right before MIA, that made her look so weak by comparison. But MIA and crew seemed to need no help undermining every aspect of their set.
What should have a stunning opening number, "Steppin' Out," one of the most intense tracks on the latest CD, MΛYΛ, instead fell completely flat—against all odds. Before the song started, three figures clad in gold head-to-toe garments moved into place on the left side of the stage. Then, one-by-one: ten ninjas in black hooded suits entered; each marked with a vertical florescent stripe lit intensely by a flood of black lights; each carrying a black automatic machine gun. Whoa. The song's opening chain saw-like sounds blared, as though something big was about to begin. And then?
The sound stopped abruptly, and a chubbie roadie dashed across the stage—for what? A misplaced 1/4" male jack? A couple of double A batteries? Hard to believe this was the opening number of a show that the fans there really wanted to embrace, despite the almost universal critical disapproval of MIA's latest release. She was supposed to get it right. In fact, had she nailed it, the crowd would have been hers for the rest of the night.
Instead, when the sound started up again, it wasn't from the beginning of the song. Rather, it started about—oh, say—20 bars in, give or take a few. Who cares? It's only 20,000 people expecting to be entertained. And—this is the real shocker: MIA's own microphone wasn't audible! For the entire song! It's not like she plays an instrument and can cover up with some nifty noodling on a drum machine. She is the lead vocalist! And you couldn't hear her! Instead, you heard a prerecorded "music-minus-one" version of the record, with her cheerleader-like back up vocalist shrilly piping counterpoint "Yeahs" "MIAs" and "Rub-a-dubs." But no MIA! And she just kept going. How about switch mics? Stop the show for a minute? Nah . . . Just pretend it's working and maybe the audience will, too.
Her mic was still out for song two: "Bucky Done Gun" from the 2005 release "Arular." And by then the ninjas and others had left the stage, so it was just two women bouncing around in front of lights and projections, and only one of them could be heard, atop a muddy sound mix.
By song three, they were turning laser lights on the audience, and MIAs mic started making some noise. "Lovalot" came next, and little had improved. MIA kept going into the night. And the crowd started heading en masse for the boat home: exhausted and sorely disappointed.
Admittedly, the show and sound improved later, and hit a peak during a thunderstorm version of "World Town" from the exciting MIA's 2007 release Kala.
@LizIsNotFamous in the end it was just me and u , **** technology! even the stage broke + parts of it fell off in the storm
about 5 hours ago via web in reply to LizIsNotFamous
@Tasleemahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtkZ_XFfUEw
about 6 hours ago via web
>>>> EUROPE! >>>> NEW BRITISH SOUND TEAM! but the lesson is, its not technology! that still didn't stop us! its bigger then that!
about 7 hours ago via web
money doesnt buy u ****! i thought more money means better sound guys in america/\/\/\! i was wrong, the higher u go , they turn u lower!
about 7 hours ago via web
Poor her. That's what she gets for being so pressed by a certain pop star.
I used to like her, but her attitude is the pits. All she does is talk **** and complain. Don't blame thesound crew for your lackluster ass string of recent performances.
it's just seems to me that she doesn't care about music anymore...
she had one of the most acclaimed, groundbreaking, mindblowing, boundary-pushing album/track of the last decade,
and got married to the son of the multi-billionaire media mogul.
now she's just fulfilling the contract she signed with interscope.
Poor her. That's what she gets for being so pressed by a certain pop star.
I used to like her, but her attitude is the pits. All she does is talk **** and complain. Don't blame thesound crew for your lackluster ass string of recent performances.
This. I feel the same way. If only you knew how religiously I used to worship Paper Planes and a few of her other songs.
Poor her. That's what she gets for being so pressed by a certain pop star.
I used to like her, but her attitude is the pits. All she does is talk **** and complain. Don't blame thesound crew for your lackluster ass string of recent performances.
I loved her too, but she pretends to be some political rebel, and she lives in a freaking Hollywood mansion. She is such a crock of ****.
If she thinks it's OK for her to be hateful, then she should be able to handle the hate thrown back at her like the big baddass girl she pretends to be.