LCD Soundsystem's final show at Madison Square Garden

Already being hailed in certain circles as the concert of the decade, LCD Soundsystem performed their final show at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011.
Frontman, James Murphy, and band may of put on the performance of their career, it's just too bad it was their last show ever. The band's self imposed retirement was announced in February and not surprisingly, tickets sold out in just minutes. Fans actually traveled from most parts of the globe to see this historic concert. And those who were lucky enough to attend were treated to over 3 hours of live music...the evening was peppered by many special guests including Shit Robot, Arcade Fire, Reggie Watts, choir ensembles, and even LCD's original guitarist, Phil Mossman. It was the type of concert that will be talked and written about by fans and critics alike 10 years from now.

The energy at the Garden drew to such a fever pitch at times the rafters continously trembled. As the "best funeral ever" came to an end, the last song was probably the saddest of the night. Murphy sounded nostalgic as he said how it was the last time they were playing, "NY I love you, but you're bringing me down". LCD rocked their way to the very end leaving the stage during a massive balloon drop from the ceiling. It was completely epic!


Photos by Joe Ryan/ ryanfoto.com

Aziz Ansari (of NBC's Parks & Recreation) crowd surfing

Video by Joe Ryan






Setlist:

INTRO: “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc
Dance Yrself Clean
Drunk Girls
I Can Change
Time To Get Away
Get Innocuous!
Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
Too Much Love
All My Friends
Tired (w/ “Heart of the Sunrise” by Yes)
—
Set 2
45:33 Part One
45:33 Part Two (w/ Reggie Watts)
Sound of Silver
45:33 Part Four
45:33 Part Five (w/ Shit Robot)
45:33 Part Six
Freak Out/Starry Eyes
—
Set 3
Us v Them
North American Scum (w/ Arcade Fire)
Bye Bye Bayou (Alan Vega cover)
You Wanted A Hit
Tribulations
Movement
Yeah (Crass Version)
—
Set 4
Someone Great
Losing My Edge (w/ “Da Funk” by Daft Punk)
Home
—
Set 5
All I Want
Jump Into the Fire (Harry Nilsson Cover)
New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down (with “Twin Peaks Theme”)

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE

LCD Soundsystem Philadelphia 2010

LCD Soundsystem at The Naval Yard Terminal, Philadelphia, PA. September 24, 2010.

REVIEW: JOHN MINNICK
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOE RYAN/ ryanfoto.com

For all intents and purposes, LCD Soundsystem (the brainchild of writer / composer / producer / lead singer James Murphy) should be one of those bands that permanently reside in the exclusive realm of the alt. music ghetto, playing small celeb-packed clubs while garnering love letters from the media cognoscenti who fancy themselves the gatekeepers of all that is worth listening to. The music is a pastiche of simple electronic beats married with introspective, melancholia drenched witticisms decrying the state of the world in Mr. Murphy's distinctive, scream-laden vocal stylings. Tracks from the group's new album "This Is Happening" and from their previous 2 full-length albums can stretch into the 8-10 minute run times, leaving the listener exhausted yet oddly exhilarated at the same time. In other words, this shit isn't simple!

Yet at Friday night's show at the Philadelphia Naval Yard celebrating the 10th anniversary of the "Making Time" party event, Mr. Murphy and all his friends (bandmates Pat Mahoney, Phil Mossman, Tyler Pope, Nancy Whang, and assorted others) laid to rest any sort of argument that electronic-based music is virtually impossible to replicate in a concert setting. Taking the stage after a rather jarring opening set from electro-noise rockers Sleigh Bells, LCD completely owned the place, opening with "Dance Yourself Clean", easily one of the best songs released this past year. Blasting through tracks from the new album as well as select favorites from past releases such as "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" and "Get Innocuous", the soldout, glowstick-laden crowd went narcotic-induced apeshit while I retreated to the relative safety of the back of the venue to better observe the general nuttiness of it all. Having seen the band play before, I understand the power of this group live. Incorporating a full band that has an amazing rhythm section combined with a frontman who knows how to nuance his shrill vocals into crescendo induced agita packs a mighty fine wallop in a live setting. It might not be pretty. But it damn sure is powerful!

There have been hints from Mr. Murphy that this may be his last album under the LCD moniker, retreating into relative obscurity to think it all up again after this tour closes out in Japan at the end of the year. Considering the passion this group's fans have combined with their growing popularity (they are headlining the Hollywood Bowl later this year), I sincerely hope more people have a chance to see this extraordinary band live before the DFA label head calls it quits. Unfortunately if that is not to be the case, then indeed, to paraphrase one of the groups songs, I might be losing my edge but I was there!

Set:

Dance Yourself Clean

Drunk Girls

Get Innocuous

Yr City's A Sucker

Daft Punk

I Can Change

All My Friends

You Wanted A Hit

Tribulations

Movement

Yeah

Encore:

Someone Great

Losing My Edge

Home

Band website: www.lcdsoundsystem.com

LCD Soundsystem at Terminal 5, NYC 5.23.2010

LCD Soundsystem electrified Terminal 5 in New York City on Sunday, May 23, 2010. This performance was their 4th sold-out concert in a row in their home city. LCD's frontman, James Murphy, is a master at what he does and continues to push the limits with their new CD, "This is Happening".

Photos by Joe Ryan/ ryanfoto.com

LCD Soundsystem Tickets and Tour dates:

Sun 05/30/10 Quincy, WA

Mon 05/31/10 Vancouver, BC

Thu 06/03/10 San Francisco, CA

Fri 06/04/10 Hollywood, CA

Sat 06/05/10 Pomona, CA

Tue 06/08/10 Austin, TX

Wed 06/09/10 Dallas, TX

Fri 06/11/10 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

Thu 06/17/10 La Coruna, Spain

Fri 06/18/10 Barcelona, Spain

Sat 06/19/10 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany

Sun 06/20/10 Sheessel, Germany

Tue 06/22/10 Zagreb, Croatia

Fri 06/25/10 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Sun 06/27/10 Pilton, United Kingdom

Thu 07/01/10 Roskilde, Denmark

Fri 07/02/10 Werchter, Belgium

Sat 07/03/10 London, United Kingdom

Sun 07/04/10 Belfort, France

Thu 07/08/10 Novi Sad, Serbia

Sat 07/10/10 Lisbon, Portugal

Thu 07/15/10 Mariaville, NY

Fri 07/16/10 Mariaville, NY

Sat 07/17/10 Chicago, IL

Wed 08/11/10 Helsinki, Finland

Thu 08/12/10 Oslo, Norway

Fri 08/13/10 Goteborg, Sweden

Fri 08/27/10 Reading, United Kingdom

Official LCD Soundsystem website

See all photos from this show.