Going to a show on a week night is underrated. Sure, you have to make time-sensitive travel arrangements, dodge rush hour and accept the fact that you may not be able to go to bed as early as you'd like, but the glaring contrast between the stressful workday grind and the warm embrace of live music makes it all worthwhile.

The Swellers hit Irving Plaza's stage looking like a motley group of dudes that want to be your buddy just as much as they want to play a show for you. They performed in front of cover art from their great new album Ups and Downsizing, with a set list that favored it heavily. The turnout was solid for an opening act but I'd bet even if there weren't nearly as many people watching, the guys would have been just as psyched to play. Their pop-influenced skate punk translates successfully to a live atmosphere with a powerful sound that brings their hooky songs to a new level. The band closed the set with the sing-along "Do You Feel Better Yet?" By the end of their time onstage, the applause from the audience conveyed a clear "yes".

This Providence had a dreamy, emo-indie rock sound which rounded out the line-up with good variety. The effeminate singer and his crew sang and played well, nailing some pretty nice grooves and belting out lyrics with sad, lovesick substance.

The energetic, visual onslaught of Set Your Goals was due in part to their three singers: one who "talks", one who sings and one shouts. They had audience participation covered as they rocked out the cramped stage with their sing-along hardcore punk. During the first few songs I asked myself if they had become so popular due to the presence of multiple singers, two of which switch off rhythm guitar playing duties at times. By the time they invited up a dude named Vinnie from I Am The Avalanche for the highlight of their set "This Will Be the Death of Us" there were three guys taking turns singing and one on deck which made it like a cross between a rap concert and a punk rock clown car. Maybe Set Your Goals draws in new fans with that gimmicky vocalist situation but they keep them around with an involving live show and pretty solid tunes.

Although the audience enjoyed the openers, Motion City Soundtrack was clearly the reason for the season. They covered all the bases, playing most of the strongest songs from each album. Aside from singer Justin Pierre's odd hairdo, self-deprecating asides and manic mannerisms, the bands personality was displayed through their stage attack, providing the crowd with a great performance to hear and watch. They basically "tore it up" as heartily as a poppy band such as themselves can manage. Although the occasional sour note popped up here and there, their performance was album-quality with live sensibilities. A local a Capella group kicked off the bands encore with their version of "Fell In Love Without You" which was as surprising as it was entertaining. Riding on the critical acclaim of their newly released record My Dinosaur Life, Motion City Soundtrack has proven they can keep the fans happy with their both their current and older songs alike.

Below you can find a link to some professionally shot videos from MCS' performance as well as their Set List.

http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/motion_city_soundtrack/performances.jhtml

1. Worker Bee

2. The Future Freaks Me Out

3. My Favorite Accident

4. Broken Heart

5. Delirium

6. This Is For Real

7. When "You're" Around

8. Pulp Fiction

9. @!#?@!

10. Last Night

11. A Lifeless Ordinary (Need A Little Help)

12. Even If It Kills Me

13. Attractive Today

14. Perfect Teeth

15. Her Words Destroyed My Planet

16. L.G. FUAD

Encore

17.Fell In Love Without You (Performed by the Williams Octet)

18.Disappear

19.Everything Is Alright