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photo via @kjlkjl

James Murphy recovering from the flu but LCD Soundsytem's BK Steel run rolls on (night 3 review, setlist)

“Ten shows in a row in the middle of Flu Season,” James Murphy half-jokingly grumbled near the start of LCD Soundsystem‘s third night of their 10-show Brooklyn Steel residency. He elaborated a song later, saying, “Monday I was totally sick, it was a real car crash. Worst singing I’ve ever done. But I’m on the way up now.” Gargling between songs (and sometimes mid-songs), Murphy was still struggling to hit some of the notes. In the case of the first notes of “Call the Police,” his voice failed him entirely, and the song fell apart midway through, but he and the band rallied and managed to stick the landing. “You just saw the first time we fucked that one up,” James admitted after. “I think it was my fault.” Nancy Whang chimed in, “Get your flu shots!”

Despite being sick, Murphy was still in good spirits, though he is still chiding photo-and-video takers, and did so Thursday throughout the show (mid-song sometimes). This was definitely the shakiest I’ve ever seen them (and I feel like James Has been sick for a quarter of the NYC LCD shows over the years), but it was still a lot of fun. With a solid, well-rehearsed center that includes “Get Innocuous!,” “You Wanted a Hit,” “Tribulations,” “Movement” and “Someone Great” (often with seamless segues between), the band have been switching the rest of their sets up at these Brooklyn Steel shows, and Thursday it was a treat to see them open with “Losing My Edge,” which they then followed with “Daft Punk is Playing at My House.”

They saved most of the new American Dream songs for late in the set, which Murphy and the rest of the band seemed to have the most fun playing. “Change Yr Mind,” sounded great and appropriately slinky with some great Adrian Belew-style guitar bursts. “Tonite” probably got the best crowd response with its call-and-response verses and general classic LCD vibe. My favorite might have been “Oh Baby,” which kicked off the four-song encore and whose synth bass sounded huge in Brooklyn Steel, with lights synched to it that felt very Close Encounters to me.

The one song I really wanted to hear them do was my “How Do You Sleep?” from American Dream, but they have yet to play it live. Judging from Al Doyle’s instagram, though, they’re gonna try it out sooner than later. Maybe next week when James is fully recovered? After the very Gang of Four-y “Emotional Haircut,” which is also a lot of fun, LCD ended things as they always do, with the one-two punch of “Dance Yrself Clean” and “All My Friends.” Setlist is below.

LCD Soundsystem’s Brooklyn Steel residency continues tonight (12/15), takes Saturday off, and runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (12/23). Some tickets recently went back on sale for most of the shows, but are now once again all sold out.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcuetN1HGc-/?taken-at=1850069821943311

SETLIST: LCD Soundsystem @ Brooklyn Steel 12/14/2017
Losing My Edge
Daft Punk Is Playing at My House
I Can Change
Call The Police
Get Innocuous!
You Wanted a Hit
Tribulations
Movement
Someone Great
Change Yr Mind
Yr City’s a Sucker
Tonite
Home

Encore:
Oh Baby
Emotional Haircut
Dance Yrself Clean
All My Friends

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