With the hype already building for the July release of Spoon’s sixth album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, it’s no surprise that electric anticipation coursed through Philadelphia’s Starlight Ballroom as the band performed on a summery Sunday night. Fans of the Britt Daniel-led four-piece glowed under purple fluorescent lights and lounged in red vinyl booths as they packed into the venue, which resembles an old-fashioned rollerskating rink. To kick off its first Philadelphia performance in almost two years, Spoon sauntered onstage and delivered its slinky, sashaying brand of pop music with determined dynamism.

Daniel appeared before the sold-out crowd in a button-down shirt and tight brown pants, a red bandana swinging from his back pocket. The other members of the band took their places underneath tinted green lights and relished the roar of the audience. Obviously eager to share new material, the band began with a shake-worthy new song named “Don’t You Evah.” Despite the crowd’s unfamiliarity with the tune, they instinctively shook hips and bobbed heads to the tambourine-laden, maraca-moving beat.

Spoon then transitioned into older material, including the jittery, pulsating “Someone Something” and the provocative, stammering “Stay Don’t Go” from 2002’s Kill The Moonlight. As the audience churned to the music, Daniel demonstrated some of his own dance moves, quarter-turning with mechanical motion. Multi-instrumentalist Eric Harvey quit the keyboard and strapped on his guitar, as fans erupted with enthusiasm at the distinct opening riff of “Fitted Shirt” from 2001’s Girls Can Tell. Bassist Rob Pope, formerly of the Get-Up Kids, provided crooning backing vocals as Daniel’s austere mannerisms broke and gave way to boyish grinning. The overwhelming applause at song’s end caused Daniel to respond with repetitive, humble “thank you”s.

Following another new number called “Rhythm And Soul”—characterized by grinding, half-started rhythms and crashing cymbals—the band slithered into songs from 2005’s Gimme Fiction. “The Beast And Dragon, Adored,” with its exploding angular throb, caused a wave of handclaps in the crowd as Daniel pranced about with undeniable charisma. The vigorous rock tune “Jonathon Fisk” had people singing along and snapping photos, while the sultry cadence of “I Turn My Camera On” had girls swooning as Daniel’s voice warbled in a dreamy falsetto.

Spoon fed off the infectious energy of the crowd. While the band performed the irregular tick of “Paper Tiger,” Jim Eno playfully threw his drumsticks at Daniel, who retaliated and returned fire. The song proved to be one of the most memorable of the evening as Daniel commanded feedback from his amplifier and the song culminated in an epic array of screeching sounds. Another highlight of the night was the derelict anthem “The Way We Get By,” during which Harvey hammered on his keyboard as Daniel strutted across stage and shrilly sang into the microphone. Seemingly overwhelmed by the crowd’s thunderous applause, Daniel laughed and deemed the audience members “cool” while the band meandered into the doleful “Everything Hits At Once.”

The band finished its set with the jerky, discordant “My Mathematical Mind,” which had Daniel looking coy as he seductively gripped the microphone and kicked cords out of his way. As Eno provided the thick backbeat, Daniel fell to his knees, battling his guitar in front of his amp with convulsive strumming, spastically striking the strings. Distortion ripped from the stage and Spoon’s set ended with vehement applause. The band thanked the audience, and with a promise to return sooner than expected, disappeared from view.

Not ready for the performance to be over, fans strained their vocal cords with vigorous shrieking, begging for the return of the beloved band. Spoon resumed its place onstage and appeased the audience with a four-song encore. Basking under blue light, the band played a new, whimsical pop tune, “Black Like Me,” as well as the jaunty dance number “The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine.”

After witnessing stutter and swagger associated with Spoon’s stage show, fans will undoubtedly reach for the most fitting utensil and gobble up the upcoming new album with a voracious appetite.

—Deidre Wengen