M.I.A. @ The Arches

M.I.A. is covered in glitter, wearing Zach Morris sunglasses and a Captain's hat with a red feather. She owns the room. Erratic and hyped, she's crowd surfing and climbing massive amps that flank the platform. Blue-painted eyes scour the crowd for fans to dance onstage. A boy in gold jumps up first; he's awkward, but M.I.A. calls him a leader so others follow. She's intelligent and honest, never compromising her artistic integrity to conform to a more mainstream appeal. The Arches might occasionally have slight glitches, but tonight the acoustics are almost perfect. The crowd is aggressive and tall; short people are getting lost in the grinding sea. "That's my tour manager, why are you trying to fuck him up?" M.I.A yells of the bearded Amish guy. Lights flash as pop animation flies out from a screen behind the DJ and the likes of Jimmy from Kala and Bucky Done Gun from Arular woo a crowd obsessed. [Beth Malone]