LCD Soundsystem Cover Jay-Z and Alicia Keys in Chicago

Posted on May 27th 2010 10:00AM by Garin Pirnia
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It wasn't until the very end of an almost two-hour show Wednesday night at Chicago's Metro when LCD Soundsystem wrapped up their epic set with a nod to fellow New Yorkers Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Frontman James Murphy started into his lament, 'New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down' from 'Sound of Silver,' then transitioned into sampling a couple of chords from Hova's 'Empire State of Mind' as keyboardist Nancy Whang filled in Keys' vocals. This time, the song ended on a dearth of fanfare, unlike last week when LCD played it in New York to balloons falling from the ceiling. That was fine considering the rest of the set was a non-stop, adrenaline-fueled ride that left the floors of the venue sticky and wet.

DFA labelmates Holy Ghost! started the party with disco-inspired beats from their 'Static on the Wire' EP. The four-piece band played the groovy 'Say My Name' and EP title track followed by club anthem 'I Will Come Back' before finishing their brief set on their first single, 'Hold On.'

LCD Soundsystem hit the stage and opened with 'Us vs. Them,' generating a disco inferno of cowbell, a spinning mirror ball, trotting beats and the crowd singing along to every word. Murphy announced this was the band's seventh show in a row, and despite saying his voice was fatigued, it certainly didn't sound like it. The band headed into their new record, 'It's Happening,' performing the jocular 'Drunk Girls' as silhouetted palm trees lit the background and Murphy grasped his mic like a walkie talkie and spoke his vocals.

The crowd cut loose on perennial favorite 'Daft Punk Is Playing at My House,' throwing their hands in the air and dancing. "I'm not afraid of YouTube," Murphy told the sold-out crowd, explaining he didn't care if they videotaped the show, "but it's a better experience to be here and sometimes it's cool to be here and not document it." Another new one, 'All I Want,' slowed the pace and got Murphy crooning, and the anthemic 'All My Friends' perked up the crowd with its rambling intro and life-affirming lyrics, but LCD saved their remaining energy for the finale.

During 'Yeah,' the lights dimmed and the band became shadowy figures against shooting lasers and blinking red lights that evoked a rave atmosphere. The song kept going for several minutes and eventually ended with Murphy's falsetto.

For the encore, the band performed 'Someone Great' and 'Losing My Edge,' the first single the band ever released back in 2002. When Murphy sang, "I'm losing my edge, but I was there," the audience should've felt glad to have been there, too, since this might be the band's final tour.