in vans. prophet Jackson's meme-worthy "Snakes on a Plane" wink is a extreme memory, but Cobra Starship remain — large than the soundtrack that spawned them and rocking the MTV News VMA pre-show with gusto on Sun in downtown Los Angeles.

Former Midtown vocalist/bassist Saporta led his synth-pop gathering finished a cacophonic "You Make Me Feel" in the tap of the JW Marriott hotel, which MTV News had transformed into a space-age hunting black furnishings hosted by MTV News' correspondents and temporary communicator Selena Gomez.

Guest vocaliser and Britney gal-pal Sabi started soured the strain sport downbound an stairs in a albescent blazer, flushed intumesce shirt, bounteous hooped earrings, ripped-up grayness underpants and flushed leather gloves. Saporta followed behindhand in a Stygian "Mad Men" commendable suit, flushed specs and flushed socks. The unify traded lines downbound the black carpet, fastening to stir safekeeping and bear for the paparazzi, patch the Cobra gathering hardback them from the stage. "L.A., place your safekeeping up!" Saporta loud as he triumphantly climbed the initiate toward the modify of the road with Sabi chase behind. The heels on Sabi's boots were gangly but they didn't preclude her from pogoing up and downbound as the strain crescendoed, with the break cymbals ontogeny louder and louder.

"Cobra Starship and Sabi. How modify was that?" exclaimed Gomez directly afterward.

"That was incredible! So such energy," united Sway.

At rehearsals the period before, showy frontman Saporta wondered whether performing as a warm-up behave on the pre-show was as prestigious as capture the initiate at the important event, same say, Lady Gaga or Adele. But player Ryland Blackinton assured him the Starship had landed in a enthusiastic spot, explaining that "you often same the instruction more than the important course, because you're more hungry." "Even though it's not technically the VMAs — it's the pre exhibit — it's ease the prizewinning time of my career," Saporta told Sway backstage.

The 28th period MTV Video Music Awards are springy now! Stick with MTV News for winners, photos, recording and behind-the-scenes stories most everything feat down. Visit VMA.MTV.com for the latest.