Michelle Shiers on April 5th, 2015

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Following the release of their fifth studio album “Seeds” last November, Brooklyn’s TV on the Radio satiated their fans with a 15-song set Friday night at the Hollywood Palladium, a triumphant performance that firmly placed the band —  after more than a dozen years of cultivating their unique brand of menacing-but-wise art-rock — as one of the most beloved and innovative contemporary bands.

The night opened with 2003’s “Young Liars” and pushed into the Ramones-indebted “Lazerray” from their newest record. Lead singer Tunde Adebimpe managed to command the big room back into a sense of cohesiveness after what felt like entertaining-but-disjointed openers: the cinematic-alt-opera-rock of Nostalghia, experimental hip-hoppers Shabazz Places and stand-up comedian Hannibal Buress.

TVOTR’s set included a good mix of old and new songs, including the positive avant-garde gospel power of clap-along “Golden Age,” the infectious hit “Happy Idiot” and the psychedelia-tinged rock track “Could You,”  featuring guitarist Kyp Malone on lead vocals. Adebimpe, Malone, multi-instrumentalist Jaleel Bunton and guitarist/keyboardist Dave Sitek worked together to heighten the crowd’s senses with their signature fuzzy synth and heavy distortion.

Though they were accompanied by a trombonist Dave Smoota Smith and drummer Jahphet Landis, the sense of loss was still felt by those who knew about the passing of bassist Gerard Smith from cancer in 2011. While the tone of their music and subject matter have remained fairly consistent over the years, the highs now feel higher and the lows lower. New track “Trouble” began like an indie-rock song and then turned into a genuine feel-good cinematic sing-along as Adebimpe reminded “Everything’s gonna be OK / don’t worry be happy” from behind his black-framed glasses and beneath his fedora.

“Blues From Down Here” from 2006’s “Return To Cookie Mountain” showed off TVOTR’s knack for unique soundscapes mixed with church music, indie-rock and funk. The end result is a sound that feels organic yet industrial with Adebimpe’s arm waving, feverish howls, and moments of controlled falsetto.

Blanketed in dark purple and blue hues that quickly turned to stark yellow rays throughout the set they performed “Forgotten” during which Adebimpe reminded us that we were all here together and asked the onlookers to look into the eye of a stranger and yell “LIGHT!” TV on the Radio closed the main set with the heated “DLZ” from 2008’s “Dear Science” and propelled everyone on the floor to dance to its trombone-heavy hip-hop beats.

They returned for an encore that included the synth burner “Ride” and the rap track “Dancing Choose.” They finally closed with “Staring At The Sun” and for a fleeting moment teased us with the possibility of a second encore by playing the first four notes of a Black Sabbath tune just before they walked off stage.