Stereolab - Surprisingly, parking was pretty easy but the doors that were scheduled to open at 10, hadn't and the line to get in was the longest I have ever seen (I was way down by the parking garage on 8th). When I finally got in at 10:40, the openers had just started. Due to the length of the line, I thought the place would be packed but the only part that was really full was the balcony. I guess, us oldsters like to sit down or lean against the rail. Maybe due to the late hour or the average age of the crowd but for a sold out show the crowd on the floor was pretty relaxed (no one pushing to get to the front).
As for the show itself. Openers Fievel is Glauque have listened to a lot of Zappa. Nothing special but a few times singer Ma Clément would hit some high notes that the crowd appreciated. As for Stereolab, same lineup as last time around and only "Miss Modular" and "French Disko" were repeats. Unlike the 2019 show, I thought this time the setlist was a little more challenging. Before they played "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse", Sadier remarked the song is now more popular that when it first came out. Well, considering it's over 17 minutes long, I can see why there wasn't any radio play in 1997. That song sounded great but either the crowd wasn't that familiar with it or they just liked each piece because they would cheer after each part like the song was over. Highlights were "Mountain", "Harmonium" and "Pack Yr Romantic Mind". They finished up with the poppy "French Disko" followed by the definitely non-poppy "Simple Headphone Mind", a nice nod to their original art rock influences.
