The hundreds of kids who filed into The Circus for this very intimate Secret Show didn’t get to see it, but there was a moment before The Gossip went onstage last Tuesday that perfectly summed this show up. It was right before soundcheck and lead singer Beth Ditto had just strolled inside. Looking around, Ditto peered at the tiny wood paneled room, smiled, and said, “Man, I love playing clubs like this.” We were hoping so.

Over the past few years, the Gossip may have graduated to venues that held a couple thousand, but they started playing everywhere from basements to tiny bars like The Circus. Which is why it seemed like such a no brainer to have them trurn to their roots with the release of Music For Men, their most accessible album yet.

Before Beth, Brace and Hannah took the stage Chicago-based DJs The Hood Internet warmed up the crowd, mixing favorites like the Tings Tings’ ”Shut Up And Let Me Go” with Estelle’s “American Boy” into compositions that got everyone moving. (We especially liked when they blended Dead Prez with Grizzly Bear. Genuis.)

From there, the stage was cleared and The Gossip stepped forward. With Men still fresh in most fans’ minds, it’s no surprise that they spent the majority of their set playing new material, from the opener of “Dimestore Diamond” to “Love Long Distance.” Though they pulled out a few songs from 2006’s Movement, the band closed out their set with Men’s breakthrough hit, “Heavy Cross.”

Or so everyone inside The Circus thought. But within moments, Beth and crew re-emerged and gave the fans inside even more reason to sweat through their clothes: A surprise cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as well as Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” This was one hot, sweaty and memorable show. And we have a lot of people to thank for it.

First and foremost, big ups to the band as well as Lars at Columbia for setting the show up, The Citcus for having us, The Hood Internet for opening, the Clamptown DJs for helping out and, finally, all the fans who packed out the crowd. As always, thanks to our sponsor Citi By MySpace Forward for keeping these shows free. Remember if you want to get VIP treatment at the next show, you gotta sign up for the Citi Forward by MySpace card. 

 Thanks again everyone. We’ll see you at the next show…