Kids at the Bar where the house DJ's and they really pumped up the crowd. They played a mix of Electro-Techno pop music that you hear on the radio. Kids at the Bar are two DJs on stage. One mixes and pumps the crowd, while the other one just turns knobs around and just stands there looking into the audience. Very interesting pair.
Natalia Kills was the opening act. I Never heard of them and let's keep it that way. It was cute to watch one of the members mother's in the crowd yelling there names and dancing to the songs. The band had a cool style to them, but the music (for me) was very cheesy Top 40 pop music, that sounds like Metro Station. 
The Sounds started off with "It's So Easy" and from there, the dance party has started. What a show and Maja Ivarsson (Lead Singer) looks, HOT! I still don't know how she does it, performing in high heels for about 2 hours. Jumping around and kicking. Her feet and foot have to be hurting after every show. She even staged dived towards the end, but they pulled her out so fast. 
The crowd was a bit wild. There was this couple that stormed there way to the front and they where a trip. The girl kept flashing her VIP sticker (like in that movie, Wayne's World) at people, but there is no VIP section. Some girls around me started to make fun of her and talking $H!T and she left. She came back, but this time, she climed on the speaker. The girls that she pist off wanted to throw $H!T at her, but no one did anything. They just gave her dirty looks. Sure enough, the girl was kicked off the speaker after 2 songs by security. I was surprised she did not flash her VIP sticker that was taped on her chest to him. 
I don't know who was the first DJ (Zombie Nation), but it looked like he was having some problems. He kept signalling the tech people and he flipped them off and waved goodbye. D!VA. The more I look into the crowd, I don't see one single person dressed in TechnoColor (that's what I call the kids at these Rave events in L.A.). Not even one loud color of clothing. Almost everyone is in a dark shade of color. Thank you. 
Tiga went on and I was not to crazy about his set. I think I am gonna scratch him off like Felix da Housecat. It's all that crazy noise (Electro-Techno). Everyone went crazy went he played, "Mind Deminsion" (a single of his from last year), but they did not go crazy when he played, "Shoes". It was not the original version of the song, it was a remix of it which I was not a fan of. Towards the end, he played, Friendly Fires "Blue Cassette" (a song with actual vocals) and it was a remix, which I think he did. It was the only good song that I actually moved to. There might be still a chance.
Soulwax was up next and what a performance. They topped there show from the last time I saw them in L.A. I think that was 4 or 3 years ago at Avaland. They got rid of there white suits and went with lite blue that looked a bit gray. Soulwax sounded great and if they play there cards right, they could be the void for LCD Soundsystem. They played a couple of new songs that sounded VERY promising. 
Everything was going good until that drunk guy came out of nowhere. He pushed some people so he could be up front. People made some faces and kindly asked him to leave, but he did not budge. He just payed no attention and just danced and bumped in to people. Now, if this happened in L.A., this guy would of been pushed out or punched. Not here, they just yelled at him to move. Towards the end, they danced with him. He left for awhile and then he came back and the people slowly pushed him away. There where some other crazy drunks around, but they kept it together. 
They had a opening band and they where good. They reminded me of Esteban & the Witch, but better. The only problem, each songs they played where to long. They need to cut them short. 
The last time I was here at The Shrine Expo was when The.Chemical.Brothers preformed here in the mid 90's. They held ALOT of underground parties here and I attended half of them. It was between La Casa and the Shrine for those famous underground parties, because they where cracking down the warehouses. Fun times.
Portishead went on and they K!LLED !T. The visuals where simple, but AMAZING. Beth Gibbons (Lead Singer) voice was on point. She sounded GREAT and so much like the album. Not alot of artist can pull that off, but Beth does. She is so shy because everytime she stopped singing, she would face the direction of Geoff Barrow (the Genius). I was surprised that she was standing...UP! The only time she sat down to sing a song was, "Wondering Star". Okay...they did an AWESOME remake of the song. They stripped it down (way...DOWN) and it was incredible that I want it. 
They played the new one, "Chase the Tear" (which is almost a year and a half old) in the middle of the show. You would think that was the song to end the night. They sold the single at the booth for $20.oo (Okay...REALLY! Thats CRAZY!). That's to high for a 12'inch record. They played alot from the first album, a few from the second and some from the third. I wish I could go to the 2nd night, but NYC is calling.
The first band was...(no comment) and IO Echo was a BORE. I saw them before and they where okay, but this time around, they rubbed me the wrong way. It looks like they are trying to hard to be a über cool band. The lead singer kept pushing her guitarists around (Punk rock) and I was surprised they did fall or lose a note. They might of choreographed this.
Once The.Drums hit the stage (they played The Smiths "How Soon Is Now?"), it got crazy. It was a good crazy, but there's that guy again, trying to push these girls off the rail. Where is security at this point to kick this guy out. You gotta give it up to the ladies, they kept him away. I felt bad for them . Sure enough, a guy that was next to the girls, grabbed him by his coller and pushed him away. It worked, but where was this guy in the beginning? 
The.Drums threw an AMAZING show once again. I got my ticket at the last minute and thank God I did. I LOVE the new album, "Portamento". It got a mixed review on NME (of course), but they are comparing them to The Smiths lately. Which I can see and hear on the way Jonathan Pierce (Lead Singer) writes his words to his songs. Very Patrick. The more I listen to this album and the lyrics, I hear it. You need to get Potramento. 
Metronomy hit the stage and what a great show. There where some problems, but it was only the main speakers going in and out a couple of times. The monitors where on and you could still hear them. After a couple of songs in, Joseph Mount (Lead Singer) pointed out to use that the roof was leaking. He took care of the problem by placing his drinking glass to catch the drops that where landing on his synth.
I was next to Oscar Cash (Synthesizer, Sax and other instruments). He is always interesting to watch. He always does his little dance and crazy hand movements. Every member has there thing. Anna Prior (Drums) was hitting those kits like she was killing a rat that just crossed her path and she was dressed very pretty too. Gbenga Adelekan (Bass) was doing it. He was also fun to watch and BOY...was he getting down with that bass guitar. They always look like they are having a great time and what CHEMISTRY! 
Midnight Magic was up and on bass was Andrew Raposo (he's from Jessica 6 and ex Hercules & Love Affair bass player), how many bands is this guy bass playing for? What a busy guy. Midnight Magic is doing something different from what other dance bands are doing right now. They are bringing 70's disco back to the dance floor with a 90's twist. They played a couple of songs and they did a good job in pumping the crowd. They got some of us moving and they where good. If it wasn't for that free download from Scion, I would of not heard about them. 
Washed Out was up next and they did pretty good. Nothing new or different from the last time I saw them at the EchoPlex. I looked around and it started to get busy. 
Cut Copy hit the stage and what a show! Of course people went crazy when they played, "Light & Magic", but it wasn't as bananas as Coachella...that was insane. I was looking forward to the door that they displayed really cool visuals. I wonder why they didn't bring it with them this time? 
If you haven't gotten the new album; Zonoscope or seen them live, you are missing out. Everytime I see them, they throw an AMAZING show and they NEVER disappoint.