The Rapture & The Presets @ Webster Hall: The People We Love

Definitely one of the most fun shows I've been to all year, but does that shock you? I mean, The Rapture AND The Presets, this was destined to be dance-a-rific and it sure was.


The Presets started the show and kept reminding us that their job was to 'warm us up', and this they did, very very well. The Presets and Klaxons are the forerunners for what's being declared 'new-rave' (gotta love the British press) and I must say, I definitely prefer the former to the latter. The Presets got everybody riled up over the course of their 40-minute set. The Sydney natives ran through a set reminiscent of a rave straight outta '92 with a bit of early Kasabian and even a Chemical Brothers sample! By the time they got to their last tune of the night, the entire crowd at Webster Hall was jumping up and down frantically. Long live The Presets!


Next up, The Rapture. Somehow it's been over 2 years since I last saw them (Curiosa Fest). I neglected seeing them at their Bowery and Crash Mansion teaser shows earlier this year because I was waiting to hear the Pieces tracks in their full glory and not in the work-in-progress stage. Last night was the first official show following the second release.


The set opened with 'Heaven' and closed with 'Olio'. I don't have the setlist but I will tell you that they played most of Echoes, half of Pieces and of course, 'Out Of The Races And Onto The Tracks'. And everything sounded top-notch. 'Olio' in particular had an interesting arrangement last night, really mild-mannered at first before totally breaking loose, a great closing track; I love how they've re-worked it for this tour. Luke and Matt were in fine spirits, even encouraging the crowd to kiss each other on the cheek during 'Echoes'. Aww.


I can only gather that tonight's Halloween show at The Bowery will be amazing. I'll be seeing Pela @ B61 in Brooklyn, while Jen will be at a showcase at Fontana's, but please let us know what The Rapture is wearing tonight as costumes. We're just aching to know!

UPDATE, SETLIST! (Thanks PSNYC!!):
Heaven / Get Myself Into It / Sister Savior / The Devil / Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks / I Need Your Love / Killing / Pieces of the People We Love / Whoo! Alright, Yeah...Uh Huh / House of Jealous Lovers / The Coming of Spring / Echoes / The Sound // Down For So Long / Olio