Review: M.I.A.

Above: M.I.A.'s irresistable "Paper Planes," featuring the best use of a cash-register bell in a song since Pink Floyd's "Money."

"M.I.A. will be out in five minutes," a DJ told the frenzied audience inside Liberty Hall.

Two hours of carefully crafted DJ work had gradually elevated the capacity audience of about 1,000 to a fever pitch. Tired of vamping 20 minutes later, the DJ abandoned the stage in frustration.

The crowd wilted in a severe case of buzz kill. Dancing had transformed the packed room into a sauna. Good will and high hopes evaporated in the oppressive heat. Even the most ardent dance music fans might have wondered if they'd erred by not opting for the outdoor Wilco concert a few blocks away Wednesday night.

Born in 1977 as Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, the London-based artist is poised to become the new century's version of Madonna or Prince. Her quasi-subversive dance music fuses African, Asian and South American elements with hip-hop to create a vital new sound.

By the time M.I.A. finally appeared 45 minutes after the DJ's ill-fated pledge, it took some time to rejuvenate the exhausted crowd. Her set only caught fire when she invited women to join her on stage for a transcendent version of "Jimmy." Men then hopped onto the stage for an abrasive reading of "Bird Flu." The sight of dozens of undulating bodies on stage added an appropriately chaotic visual element to M.I.A.'s conceptual brilliance.

When she wasn't surrounded by dancing Kansans, M.I.A. was supported by her DJ, a hype (wo)man, a goofball male dancer and a backing video screen that featured complimentary images. M.I.A.'s tight leggings and suggestive stretching made her resemble a demented aerobics instructor.

The night's format reduced the sound to little more than big beats and playground chants. Some songs survived the transition better than others. Delicate in its recorded version, "Sunshowers" was almost unrecognizable. "Pull Up the People" also fared poorly. The sinister and grimy "20 Dollar," however, prospered in the primitive setting. "Bucky Dun Gone" also blossomed.

M.I.A. concluded her one-hour performance with the irresistible "Paper Planes." The same gunfire hook that may have prevented it from becoming a mainstream hit makes it the penultimate club anthem. The celebratory song almost redeemed M.I.A.'s severe time-management issues.

If M.I.A. represents the future, her opening act offered a unique time capsule to the past. The Egyptian Lover enjoyed a minor hit in 1983 with "Egypt Egypt." His sound and style hasn't changed.

M.I.A. skipped across the stage during his set of throwback jams. It's a shame she didn't stay there.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Steve]

I have never seen a crowd so into a concert as this one. I saw so much dancing and energy by M.I.A. and the crowd, it was wonderful. And the video screen was a nice touch for a smaller size show.

Granted her voice was hard to hear at times (that could have been my ears still buzzing from the almost empty She Wants Revenge concert the night before). I guess I thought it was better then the review.

[Vandelay]

So you didn't have a reporter at the Wilco show? It was wonderful: nice weather, excellent sound quality, and the band was razor-sharp. Jeff Tweedy clearly was in a great mood: lots of funny banter between songs. One of my favorite shows in a long time.

[Tim Finn]

Nope. Ugh. I've heard it was great. Missed them last time, too.

[Mike A]

Speaking of Wilco did anyone catch that show? Great venue and the band was fantastic.

[Mike A]

Sorry about the above, didnt see you missed it Tim. Last time I think you had Elton duty.

[The Big Lead]

Couldn't have asked for a better first Wilco experience. Here's the setlist:

Walken
Hummingbird
A Shot in the Arm
At Least That's What You Said
You Are My Face
Pot Kettle Black
Impossible Germany
She's A Jar
Say You Miss Me
Handshake Drugs
War on War
Via Chicago
Jesus, etc.
Too Far Apart
Theologians
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Kingpin
I'm A Wheel
----------------------------
Misunderstood
Passenger Side
California Stars
Hate It Here
Heavy Metal Drummer
The Late Greats
Red-Eyed and Blue>
I Got You (At The End of the Century)>
Hoodoo Voodoo

[Mike A]

What was the song requested on the website Jeff was joking about?

[The Big Lead]

Don't remember but I thought it was one of the first five. The dueling guitars during Hoodoo Voodoo blew my mind. You can download the show here:

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=515262

[Tim Finn]

Aw, man ... never heard them do HooDoo VooDoo. And Cali Stars is one of my favorite tunes ever.

[Mike A]

Cali Stars was one of the highlights of the show.

[Garrett]

Does anyone know the names of her opening DJs?

[Steve]

Low B was the one in Lawrence.