LV band finally shows some life

It's good to see Las Vegas' own Crystal Method is finally learning the ins and outs of rock stardom.

When first I saw them almost two years ago - wedged between two other techno bands at Club Utopia - they were a shy, static pair. Sometimes Ken Jordan would move a leg as he played his keyboard; Scott Kirkland would dramatically bob his head.

One hardly expected them to work the stage like the Who, but even a lateral movement every now and again would have saved me a lot of anxiety, wondering if they needed defibrillation.

But those shrinking violets have finally chosen to bloom, and the Crystal Method that took the stage at the Hard Rock Hotel last night never stopped moving, not once. Jordan rocked back and forth like a madman, wholly invested in his craft, while Kirkland held his keyboard over his head as he played, slamming it down when he finished his part. A state-of-the-art lighting rig made the performance more kinetic still.

The band assayed most of their repertoire - from the club hits "Trip Like I Do" and "Keep Hope Alive" to the thumping "High Roller," most recently heard in a commercial for Mazda's new Miata model. Their propulsive sound seemed to come up from the floor, as if the ground itself were a giant bass speaker.

The band was as sharp as always, and the confidence Jordan and Kirkland now project adds an exciting new dimension to their performance. It was a visceral thrill to see Kirkland smash his keyboard against the ground, over and over, at the conclusion of the band's set.

Pete Townsend would be proud.

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