Spiritualized

Things to know about a Spiritualized show:

1. There is usually no conversation from the stage other than perhaps an acknowledgement of the band at the finale
2. Singer and sole permanent member, Jason 'Spaceman' Pierce will usually wear sunglasses and betray no emotion
3. There is usually a background hum along with a subtle throbbing synth sound running through the set that at first sounds like a feedback problem; just go with it

Spiritualized music leans heavily in two seemingly disparate directions:

1. Spiritual or Gospel Music like the universally-known 'Oh Happy Day'
2. Addiction and Drug Use It's only when you listen to the lyrics you realize it's hard to discern whether they refer to being in a state of Religious Rapture or being Stoned.

There are also lyrical references that can be construed as both missing your true love or Jonesing for a fix. When not singing genuinely heartbreaking ballads to a long lost love the band will kick into overdrive and head into balls-to-the-wall space-rock, cliched phrases and everything. Great stuff.

Sometimes they play as a straight up 5- to 8-piece rock band, but at other times they bring a gospel choir along for the ride and that's when you know it's going to be something special. It all works so incredibly well, and provides an almost religious experience. I took my friend to see them and she was in tears at the beauty of it all. She went a second time and was blown away to a greater degree when she realized it hadn't been a one-off and they are just that good.

Final thought: If they come to town to play their seminal album: 'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space', do whatever it takes to see that show.