With LCD Soundsystem, The Party Never Stops
By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 28, 2010 7:00PM
A warning was posted on the doors of the Aragon Ballroom Monday night informing all who entered that there would be "excessive" use of strobe lights. It was the first of LCD Soundsystem's two-night stint in Chicago, so a big stage production and some epileptic seizure-inducing lights were to be expected. But while we were prepared for a strobe explosion, we had no idea we would see such levels of sweating, dancing and rocking out that hard for a sustained, 90-plus minute set. We suppose with James Murphy leading the party--and LCD's electro dance-punk beats to propel him--superhuman feats of dance suddenly become possible.
Generating excitement over their music is something at which the band undoubtedly excels, and the fun doubles when they make it happen live. Monitors on each side of the stage stacked six high ensured that no bones would be left unrattled after the band took the stage. A drawn out opening version of "Dance Yourself Clean" led the audience--already sweat-drenched from openers Hot Chip--into a foot-stomping, arm-waving frenzy. Onstage, Murphy hardly rested a beat before steering the opening into an explosive segue to "Drunk Girls."
The bigness of LCD Soundsystem's music was no doubt made possible in part by the sprawling stage setup (that to our eye, seemed even taller than usual for the Aragon). No fewer than eight musicians were present behind the array of drum kits, DJ decks, synths and keyboards that were spread around stage. Versatile players like Nancy Whang switched up every few songs from keys to backup vocals to synth, and it was great to see exactly how the band puts their sound together live. We were pleasantly surprised to see just how many actual humans with instruments were behind what sound like well-produced blips, bops and riffs on LCD’s albums.
Since the band’s ten years together comprises only three full-length albums, it's safe to assume that they have a pretty firm handle on their songs and exactly how to play them for maximum effect. An LCD Soundsystem record is pretty much an instant party regardless, but given the predictability of their set list, the pacing and slight tweaks made all the difference. The band seemed to engage with the levels from the audience, smash-cutting to one song while crescendoing into another, waiting until just the right second the pull the trigger on the big beats. Murphy's vocals add to the fun as he goes from his straight-forward head voice to flat-out screeching in the span of two songs; as big of a payoff as the beats are, somehow Murphy's voice remains the prize at the bottom of LCD Soundsytem's musical Cracker Jack box.
The band churned out a three-song arc of older favorites, “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House,” “I Can Change,” and “All of My Friends” before pulling back on the intensity ever so slightly with “You Wanted A Hit.” A few songs after dipped levels down until the band reached the end of their set, spinning things out of control again with an exuberant, slightly spastic closer, “Yeah.”
We had been disappointed the band didn’t play “North American Scum” this summer, instead picking a “New York I Love You (But You’re Bringing Me Down)/”Empire State of Mind” medley for their encore; given LCD Soundsystem’s two-night stay in Chicago, we hoped we wouldn’t get more of the same. We didn’t end up getting “Scum,” but our disappointment was short-lived when the band came back with “Someone Great,” “Losing My Edge” and the final closer, “Home.”
Everything about the night was huge without being over-the-top, though it made us realize that as a band, LCD Soundsystem can’t likely get any bigger than they are already. Even in the cavernous Aragon Ballroom, they were able to pull together enough intimacy on the level of a large but really excellent dance party. Sure, if their audience and shows continue to grow they’d probably still rock, but hearing them live would feel more like a soundtrack and less like an experience. Whether LCD Soundsystem slows down even more in their musical output together or keep on their steady, album every third year schedule, we plan on staying tuned since they’ve showed us that even old favorites can still surprise you.