Clearly inspired by lead singer Brian Molko, arguably the world's most famous current "out of the closet" bisexual, men in the audience were not your typical rock-concert crowd members. Many wore makeup, quite skillfully applied, we should say. Women in the audience generally went without. It's fair to say that many members of both sexes were, and are, infatuated with the Goth-looking Molko.

It's clear why Placebo is dubbed the most charismatic band in the world and they put on an excellent show. This despite a surprising level of competition from the latest engineering marvel — and we're not talking light and sound effects here. No, the show was stolen at points by the portable Toi Toi open air urinals that seem to have replaced the traditional closed cabins once seen at outdoor concerts and construction sites.

That's because those using them basically have to indulge in indecent exposure in order to eliminate the liters of beer and Red Bull they've imbibed.

Jan P. Muchow, singer for the cult Prague band Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, himself a striking figure who is the object of many a crush, was spotted at the show, listening intently to the band. In fact, in a certain light, Muchow looked remarkably like a taller, Czech version of Molko.

The United Islands series, which color-codes its venues (red for rock, green for word and ethno, blue for, um, blues) scores increasingly big-time talent these days. The jazz masters Martin, Medeski & Wood, for example, were in peak form. Their promotional picture, in which the trio dons Arctic parkas, has been blamed by some for prompting the recent heat spell. No sooner did the picture run in the local press, showing the band apparently set for the Iditarod, than temperatures soared.