Friday’s TV on the Radio show almost didn’t happen. Originally scheduled for May 2, the concert was nearly derailed by the sudden death of bassist Gerard Smith. But anyone expecting the Brooklyn band to hang their heads at the 4th & B show were instead treated to a fast and furious performance that was anything but solemn.

TV on the Radio’s latest, Nine Types of Light, was released in April to critical acclaim. But instead of leaning on that album, the band treated the crowd to a diverse set that touched upon all eras of their discography. Songs like “Satellite” and “Staring at the Sun” (both from the group’s groundbreaking 2003 EP Young Liars), “Dreams” (from their debut full-length Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes) and the crowd-pleasing “Wolf Like Me” (from their mid-career smash Return to Cookie Mountain) were all given their due.

If the five-piece was still dealing with the emotional fallout of Smith’s death, you wouldn’t have known it. The band played with focused energy, rarely letting the final notes of one song fade out before launching into the tremolo strums of the next. The night served as a triumphant statement of purpose from the group — no matter what befalls them, TV on the Radio proved that they can bounce back stronger, and more rocking, than ever.

Photos – TV on the Radio at 4th & B – May 13, 2011