I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 27, 2023] Le Tigre

Le Tigre’s song “Deceptacon” became a huge viral Tik Tok sensation last year.  I remembered the song from the 90s.  I was interested in Le Tigre because Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna was involved.

I liked it enough, but I found it so simplistic and repetitive that I didn’t really enjoy the album all that much.  I grabbed their second album, but didn’t follow through with them after that.  They put out one more album and then broke up.

Then they announced a reunion tour.  My daughter really wanted to see them.  The first date was at Union Transfer and then they were going to Europe.

I snagged two tickets as soon as I could and, amazingly, we would see Kathleen Hannah twice in two months. 

Amusingly, tonight was one of Taylor Swift’s sold out shows at Giants Stadium (72,000 people), and we were going to another long-awaited sold out show with about 1,500 other people.

After Shamir cleared off their gear, out came three microphones, a keyboard stand and a guitar stand.  It was fascinating that there was no “band.”  Rather, all three Tigres stood across the front.  JD Samson was on our left behind the keys.  Kathleen was in the center, hair “lacquered up high” and Johanna Fateman on our right with a guitar.

They came out to “Intro” and after the video screen behind them settled into the band name, they began “The the Empty.”  One thing I loved immediately was that the lyrics to their songs scrolled across the top of the video screen.  Later Hannah told us that they made these videos on a iMac like twenty years ago (the font of the lyrics was distinctly old-school Mac).  The videos were mostly just random images.  And the band sang.

And everyone in the audience sang.  This was not the first time I felt like an imposter as every screamed out all of the words to all of the songs.  Songs that I didn’t know at all.

But the whole show was super fun, nonetheless,  The lyrics were relevant (sadly) and exciting to sing along with a room full of like-minded people.

Even though Kathleen is the most well known person in the band, the whole enterprise was very democratic with each member switching instruments and lead vocals.

After nine songs, the band left the stage.  A video played and the music of “Get Off the Internet” was projected from the album.  I had to assume a nod to Kraftwerk here.

When they returned, there had been a costume change (just like Taylor Swift!).  Now they were wearing black and white outfits that looked amazing on stage.

The show continued apace with songs from all of the different albums.

Some of the songs were silly and weird.  All of them were incredibly simple with a drum beat and usually some kind of simple synth riff.  This is why I didn’t like them all that much back in the day–too simple–but it worked wonders in this setting.

The crowd was pretty great except for the drunk woman next to me who pushed her way through the crowd saying I feel like such an asshole (she was) and parking right in front of the little girl next to us (she was like 12). She proceeded to dance aggressively the whole night and even shouted out a few things during the show while Kathleen was talking.

But aside from her, the whole experience was great.  Kathleen once again encouraged everyone not to feel too down about what’s going on in the world–these are the dying gestures of these people, she opined.  I hope she’s right.

As they announced their last song, Kathleen winked at us.

They came back out a minute or so later and played a two song encore.  Including a fantastic and fun version of “Deceptacon.”  At the end of the song, Kathleen grabbed a jump rope and skipped rope for the last minute of the song.  Unusual, but not that odd for a definitely odd and fun band.

The show was barely an hour, but it felt longer.  And no one left disappointed.

This show was so much more fun than Bikini Kill.  I enjoyed it a lot more too.  I went in with diminished expectations, but came out wanting to listen to all of their albums again.

1. Intro
2. The the Empty  £
3. TKO Λ
4. FYR §
5. My My Metrocard £
6. What’s Yr Take on Cassavetes £
7. Mediocrity Rules Ø
8. Shred A §
9. Seconds Λ
10. Get Off the Internet Ø (band off stage for costume change)
11. Yr Critique Ø
12. On Guard §
13. On the Verge Λ
14. Viz Λ
15. Hot Topic £
16. Keep on Livin’ §
17. Eau d’Bedroom Dancing £
    Encore:
18. Phanta £
19. Deceptacon £