In honor of their new album, Loud Like Love, Placebo returned to the U.S. last week, playing two sold-out shows in New York on October 15th and Los Angeles on October 18th. The gigs marked the British band’s first U.S. appearances in six years. "To have two sold-out shows, to have this warm reception after six years is really encouraging," lead singer Brian Molko told Rolling Stone when we visited with him in the Wiltern dressing room downstairs before the group took the stage that night. Rolling Stone had a photographer on hand to follow the group and capture all the excitement, nerves and energy of a band playing their first L.A. show in more than half a decade.

By STEVE BALTIN