Everybody Keeps on Listening in, Nobody's Listening in

This is a crazy week.5 of concerts I'm in. Art Brut last Saturday, Stereo Agency this Saturday (I think?), LCD Soundsystem/The Juan MacLean next Wednesday, and tonight, LCD Soundsystem and The Juan MacLean. Yeah, I'm going to the same show twice in a week, wanna fight about it? Tonight's show was at The Trocadero down in Philadelphia's version of Chinatown. This was my second time at The Troc. The first was Iron and Wine back during the summer, and I loved the show and the venue. This time around, I loved the show, but the venue left me surprisingly underwhelmed.

The Juan MacLean started things off with a killer set to an unfortunately thin, listless crowd. Juan said he'd bring chairs for us next time. James Murphy and company came on around 9:30 or 10. By now the crowd had filled in a bit, although I don't think it sold out (I could be wrong). I was kinda pissed I bought a ticket through Ticketslavemaster beforehand when I could have gotten one at the box office before the show for cheaper, or bought one off a scalper for cheaper still. Whatevs, I'm made of money. Literally. Just kidding.

Ah yes, the show. The crowd was pretty young, at least near the front where I was standing. Not young in the I-heard-this-band-on-The-OC way, but young in the we're-cooler-than-Chris way, which was...cool, I guess. Seriously though, one kid was so young his mom came with him. Lame. She wasn't even hot. The kids clearly knew LCD Soundsystem quite well, which was nice, and everyone I saw got their groove on. Yes, even me, and without the hip-loosening powers of alcohol. I think I held my own, and I may not be the greatest dancer, but I'm not at all dangerous. LCD kicked up their noise and tempo from the record to accomodate the gyrating masses, which was nice. During the encore (I song I've never heard before..."Fire" or something) a slight mosh pit broke out. My one complaint about their performance was the omission of "Beat Connection." Here's hoping they bring it for next week's show.

My one real problem with the show was the sound. Maybe I was too close, or maybe I just hadn't noticed the quality at the Iron and Wine show, or maybe I&W just sound more natural in the Grand Ole Opry-esque setting. I mean, Iron and Wine is pretty much the opposite of The Juan MacLean and LCD Soundsystem. But enough about me, here are the pictures:


The Juan MacLean



Those sneaky LCD Soundsystems singing on "Give Me Every Little Thing"



What you want is what we want is a case of the HA HA HA HA!



2/3 of The Juan MacLean (the ones not named Juan) joined in for "Yr City's a Sucker."



But have you seen my records!?



Haha, so I guess the kids were getting a bit too rowdy (someone tried to crowd-surf while there wasn't much of a crowd) so this bouncer placed himself front and center for a few minutes.



You've got to set them up, kids. Set them up.



James Murphy breaking things down on the cowbells and assorted bangy objects.

Overall, good times. I wish I could've stayed for the after-party. This was a concert I've been looking forward to for a while, and it pulled through.