[ATTENDED: March 28, 2022] LCD Soundystem
Usually I like to give a separate post for an opening act. But the opening act for this show was a DJ named Dave P. who does a show called Making Time. Or Making Time is a show and he is one of the DJs. Or something. I didn’t quite get it.
So Dave P. spun music before LCD Soundsystem came on. It was kind of funny because they always play music before a band comes on. So instead of a playlist, it was an actual person spinning songs. But he wasn’t on stage–he was up above in the balcony. And he never spoke. So it almost didn’t make a difference. The tunes were pretty good though (but waaay too loud–much louder than the band was).
The biggest gripe I had was that he played until 9:30 (I had arrived at around 7:30). So I basically stood there for two hours. Why didn’t LCD Soundsystem come on at 9 or something? The show could have ended at a more reasonable time as well.
So the band came out at 9:30.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this show. I like a bunch of LCD songs, but they’re all kind of monotonous dance songs. So what was a live show going to be like.
The biggest surprise was that there were like eight people on stage–they just kept coming and coming. Al Doyle (who played literally everything–guitar, keys, drums and a xylophone) stood stage right as the rest of the band filed on and he seemed to bless each person as he or she came on stage: Pat Mahoney (drums), Tyler Pope (bass), Korey Richey (percussion), Nancy Whang (keys and vocals). For this tour there were two other members, Abby Echiverri and Nick Millhiser on more synths. The stage was absolutely packed with gear–it looked like a 1980’s sci-fi hi tech movie with banks of synths and wires everywhere. I have no idea what any one was doing, but they were all very busy.
Then James Murphy came out. He stood on the other side of the stage in front of the drums (he occasionally banged a cymbal or cowbell).
And then they started. I thought it was going to be really loud, but it wasn’t. I also didn’t expect it to be so much fun. Everyone on stage was really into it. Al Doyle was a treat to watch he was so busy and James Murphy, while he doesn’t really DO a lot, is an engaging front man. He has also constructed these songs so that what seems like monotony is actually a slow build up. Especially with a live band. These seemingly same notes are forever morphing.
And when you have lyrics that are almost the same thing for the whole song, it’s really easy to sing along to. Nearly the entirety of “Yr. City’s a Sucker” is
Your city’s a sucker
My city’s a creep
There are some verses thrown in as well (with a fun backing vocal “ha ha ha ha” that I rather enjoyed, but mostly it’s just “Your city’s a sucker.”
My familiarity with their music has ebbed with each release. I hadn’t heard anything off of their last release, I didn’t think. Turns out “Tonite” is a new(ish) song and I really like it, so I was pretty happy they played that.
But the setlist was pretty much designed for fans of their older stuff, like me.
Seven songs off of the debut album. And 5 off of Sound of Silver.
I also really enjoyed “Emotional Haircut,” a new song that I didn’t recognize but which was fantastic.
And frankly, all of their songs sounded good–and usually you can sing along after a minute or two.
I was really impressed, though, with the band. Nancy Whang was up front, playing all the main synth lines and contributing lots of backing vocals. Drummer Pat Mahoney was great–it’s amazing how much a drummer brings to music that is so metronomic–it just feels more alive.
And of course, Al Doyle was just amazing to watch. At one point he took off his guitar and slowly waved it around (with one hand) squealing feedback noises out of the amp. And when he played the drums in front of him, they lit up.
The folks in the back were probably the hard working but unseen heroes of the night–again, I have no idea what they were doing but the whole things sounded fantastic.
When he finished the main set he said they were going to take a break and come back. He said it’s not an encore, it’s just a break. He said, go het a drink, we’ll come back.
And they did with a four song not-encore.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear “New York I Love You,” a song that I like but which seemed like it wouldn’t fit the tone of the show. But it sounded great and built up very nicely. And it segued perfectly into the final banger of the night, “All My Friends.”
By this time, there was a huge crowd in the middle of the floor dancing and bouncing and although it started to get a little out of hand, it seemed perfect for the song.
I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go out on a cold Monday night, but it was an awesome show.
- Yr City’s a Sucker £
- I Can Change ♦
- Thrills £
- Daft Punk Is Playing at My House £
- Time to Get Away §
- On Repeat £
- You Wanted a Hit ♦
- Tribulations £
- Movement £
- Tonite ∉
- Emotional Haircut ∉
- Someone Great §
- Losing My Edge £
- Home ♦
not-encore - Get Innocuous §
- Dance Yrself Clean ♦
- New York, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down §
- All My Friends §
∉ American Dream (2017)
♦ This is Happening (2010)
§ Sound of Silver (2007)
£ LCD Soundsystem (2006)
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