Saturday’s Red Marquee MGMT set once again packed the place to bursting, but the rain didn’t seem to dampen any spirits.

The set was adorned with palm trees and Corinthian columns (Doric? Ionian? Hard to say) making it look a bit like a Las Vegas Casino.

Their set, which mixed older, more popular tunes with newer, more experimental work, proved that they really know how to make a pop-culture statement with their work, but they can also write songs that are deep, complex and satisfying that don’t rely as much on monster hooks like those early hits did. Throwing an improvised song about Fuji rock between two songs early in the set showed that while some of their tunes may come across as serious, that doesn’t mean they have to be.

Judging by the amount viceral crowd reaction, singalong and iPhones up for some amateur videography when songs like Kids started, MGMT is still struggling to escape the hits that pigeonhole them in the eyes of many. Taken side by side live, many of their newer songs are deeper and more interesting than their handful of hits, but apparently they don’t make quite as good a video to prove you were there and saw them when. But perhaps they are in a better position to do what they want artistically because they are also willing to play their hits. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because despite not having the same kind of obvious marketability their new music is certainly worth hearing.

The sound was phenomenal, and the visuals compliment all the performance without overpowering it. The songs were at once both complex and simple, deep and pop, with each song offering something new. And they really know what sounds to use to achieve songs that are full, and strike the perfect balance between music that is fun and that which really demands the attention of the listener.