MGMT Play Old and New at Pre-Lollapalooza Gig

Two summers ago MGMT was on top of the world. The Brooklyn-based duo were touring the globe in support of their debut release 'Oracular Spectacular,' dominating music festivals and wowing critics and fans alike with their massive overnight success and surprising new sound.

But at Lollapalooza, the band had a new challenge as it embarks on a tour in support of its new album, 'Congratulations,' a stark departure from their debut that has left some old fans puzzled. Friday night's show at the House of Blues, which preempts the band's Sunday Lollapalooza set, combined the new with the old.

Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, the core duo of the band, played with their expanded band. While the backdrop remained the same – psychedelic graphics, including an eerily ironic "all eyes on us" montage with eyeballs literally lighting up the set behind them – their signature tie-dye tees and shaggy coifs have been replaced by clean white crew neck shirts and sporty cropped 'dos. Change is fine -- good, some might suggest -- but the 180-degree turn seemed to leave some of the audience bemused.

"Just because it's the House of Blues doesn't mean you can't be happy," VanWyngarden called out to the crowd, but arguably the band's energy, more subdued to match their new material, was rubbing off on the crowd. Luckily, 'Oracular Spectacular' remains their crowning glory and despite touring in support of the new tracks, the first record easily dominated the evening's set list. 'Time to Pretend' and 'Electric Feel' led to the kind of applause the band is used to, and a level of appreciation that hasn't faded despite the band's sophomore experimentation.