M83 plays House Of Blues in Orlando, Fla. on Sept. 27, 2012. | Photo by: Philip Pietri ©

All photos by Philip Pietri // pietriphotography.com ©

Is it an unwritten law somewhere that when a band achieves commercial success – and nowadays I define commercial success as getting your music in a commercial – that boneheads flock to your music because it was delivered as the audio component of a mind numbing flicker rate? I ask this because there were moments at M83’s show at the House of Blues in Orlando where I was sure this was some sort of fraternity rush event. I actually moved several times to escape earshot of conversations that were doing their best to rob me of my remaining intellect. I admit I was on the second floor, which was far more aloof than the engaged folks on the floor at the HOB, but damn.

I saw M83 when they played the Beacham in downtown Orlando last November. I was impressed with the live performance, but wasn’t exactly stoked this time around because they are still touring on the wildly popular, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness inspired Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming double-album. This time I brought my 12 year-old niece. It was her first rock show. She was closer to the median age and although it made me feel decrepitly old, I was able to see the show through a fresh set of eyes. It was also cool to have someone hold my beer … and shirt. I kid. M83 is at the top of her indie music list and the intense light show, peppered in rock-outs moments, and seeing a man in a dog outfit – a la FX’s Wilfred – crowd surf to the stage were all that more resonant with a tween reporting on every second of the show with her iPhone. It was like Disney; you are completely over the horseshit. Been there done that. Then you experience it with a kid and the magic returns. And the coolest thing about sharing experiences like this with a niece or nephew is you can drop them off at their house when it’s over.

Highlights:

• Dog-suited crowd surfer
• First set packed with non-stop hits
• Anthony Gonzalez on tour so damn long that he declared that this was their first ever stop in Orlando. You’re wrong Anthony! I have proof!
• Multi-instrumentalist Jordan Lawlor’s frenetic moonwalk / running man synthetic cow bell attack
• Keyboardist / vocalist, Morgan Kibby (I think that’s her) shimmying on the delicate precipice of a nip slip the entire night

[Show picture list]