My live experience with Ladytron begins with Franz Ferdinand, a band I'm fairly obsessed with, to the point that I might start foaming at the mouth if you show me photos of them. Back in April, I had a ticket in my hot little hand to see Ladytron at Irving Plaza, but the two nights preceding were meant to be spent at the Hammerstein Ballroom, watching Franz Ferdinand rock the house inside out. "Unfortunate Timing" might as well be my middle names, because I caught a strand of influenza that week that played out like the plague and being the trooper I am, I went to both Franz shows, a sneezy, mucusy mess. I did not see my beloved Ladytron. This time, I was there, front and left of center. And it was pretty effing awesome.

But oh, how I wish I'd brought my camera. Mostly for the sake of CSS, who were so much fun, they hardly seemed worthy of the title of "opening band." All dressed in clothes that were so geeky and out of style, they went back around to being terribly fashionable, the six members took the stage bounding and cheering, and plowed through the tracks of their debut album, Cansei de Ser Sexy. Lead singer Lovefoxxx was an absolute ball of unabashed energy, charming the crowd with her mad "choreography" skills and spitting water into the air in time with the beat. She also shed various clothes during the set, ending up in gold pants and a very large t-shirt which she pulled over her head and sang through repeatedly. They began with "CSS Suxxx" and highlights included "Meeting Paris Hilton," "Alala," "Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex" (their "R&B song"), and closer "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above." As the first slamming beats of "Art Bitch" began, Lovefoxxx declared, "This floor is a dancefloor!" and careened down into the crowd, making good on her promise and turning the floor into her bitch. I definitely want to see them again, next time with a camera.