When I found out that Hot Chip would be playing a secret show in New York City last week, I was ecstatic. I’ve been wanting to see them perform, but their tickets sell out fast, and my schedule just hasn’t fit theirs. Not until the 5th of February that is.

I waited on line at the Highline Ballroom for two hours, and was in the first wave of people to get through the doors. The venue itself was rad. Small, but not too small. Easy access to drinks (a necessity). The acoustics were also great.

This “secret” show was put on my MySpace Music, in an effort to promote their new service. The show was live streamed on the internet, but there’s no way it could compare to being there in person. First on stage was Philadelphia band, Free Energy. I was incredibly impressed by these guys. Their pop rock tunes were catchy and VERY easy to listen to. The crowd seemed incredibly surprised by how good this band was, and instantly showed their appreciation by clapping and dancing along. You can check out their music by visiting their MySpace page.

After Free Energy came the headlining band, Hot Chip. Their newest album, One Life Stand, was released this past week, so they played a lot of this material. I’ve been listening to this album for quite some time now, so I knew the songs which a lot of the audience was hearing for the first time (oh yeah, I felt cool).

They opened up with the first track from the new album, “Thieves In The Night”. It was amazing! The sounds coming out of those speakers made the crowd go wild. People were dancing like crazy, singing along, and watching Hot Chip as if they were in a trance (maybe they were actually in a trace).

Highlights of the evening were the epic renditions of “Ready For The Floor”, “Alley Cats”, and “And I Was A Boy From School”. Each song outdid the last, and really showcased the immense talents of Alexis Taylor and Co. This is a band you HAVE to see live. Their music is fun to listen to at home, but in person they’re even better.

My one issue with the Hot Chip show is that they didn’t play “Wrestlers”! That’s my favorite song, so I was obviously disappointed, but whatever, they can’t play everything. I understand. Next time you see that Hot Chip will be coming to your town, do yourself a favor, and buy a ticket. Prepare to be blown away.