By Eric Pinder
Contributing Writer
I'll just come right out and say it: I didn't get to hear "North American Scum". Otherwise it was an amazing night. With the weather turning cooler (finally!), it was an excellent time to break out the ironic flannel shirts and porkpie hats. Kudos to the girl sporting the Waldo sweater! Also spotted: guy wearing shorts and a blazer with some sort of school patch, guy in skinny jeans wearing clip-on suspenders (Seriously? Those jeans are so tight there's no danger of them falling down),two people in Panda hats, and a Public Enemy head-kerchief! Plus the usual assortment of hipster attire.
Per usual at Hard Rock, the show started right on time (9pm - kind of late for a school night). Sleigh Bells, a noise pop duo from Brooklyn opened featuring heavy groin-rattling beats and plenty of guitar distortion. I would say that occasionally their sound bordered on industrial rap. Alexis Kraus has a very pretty voice with a "dream pop" quality to it - it can sound light and gauzy, but she can also get her angry Riot Grrl scream on. She was a 4th grade teacher in the Bronx so I'm sure she learned to use it there. Alexis and guitarist Derek Miller were both very energetic - leaping around the stage. She reminded me of a less spastic Karen O.
I was pleased to hear the song "Double Dutch Bus" between sets. It was an excellent choice - like a palate cleanser to get ready for LCD Soundsystem and their more mellow dance groove. I read in interviews where the group strives to achieve the same sound live as on the albums. Besides lead singer James Murphy, there are six other musicians all playing a variety of instruments. They have a drum kit as well as three other percussion setups not to mention a variety of keyboards and samplers. They opened with "Dance Yourself Clean" from their latest effort This Is Happening. Like many of their songs it builds slowly up to a frentic climax and then takes you back down. All night they were excellent at building up the pace and keeping the crowd engaged - we did the pogo all through "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House." I would like to single out Nancy Wong who played many repetitive patterns on the keyboard with great style which could have sampled easily. The show was one big dance party complete with a gigantic mirrored disco ball! Murphy has said in interviews that this is the last time he will tour with LCD Soundsystem. He seemed genuinely touched by the loud support of the Orlando audience, so hopefully he'll change his mind and come back.
Contributing Writer
I'll just come right out and say it: I didn't get to hear "North American Scum". Otherwise it was an amazing night. With the weather turning cooler (finally!), it was an excellent time to break out the ironic flannel shirts and porkpie hats. Kudos to the girl sporting the Waldo sweater! Also spotted: guy wearing shorts and a blazer with some sort of school patch, guy in skinny jeans wearing clip-on suspenders (Seriously? Those jeans are so tight there's no danger of them falling down),two people in Panda hats, and a Public Enemy head-kerchief! Plus the usual assortment of hipster attire.
Per usual at Hard Rock, the show started right on time (9pm - kind of late for a school night). Sleigh Bells, a noise pop duo from Brooklyn opened featuring heavy groin-rattling beats and plenty of guitar distortion. I would say that occasionally their sound bordered on industrial rap. Alexis Kraus has a very pretty voice with a "dream pop" quality to it - it can sound light and gauzy, but she can also get her angry Riot Grrl scream on. She was a 4th grade teacher in the Bronx so I'm sure she learned to use it there. Alexis and guitarist Derek Miller were both very energetic - leaping around the stage. She reminded me of a less spastic Karen O.
I was pleased to hear the song "Double Dutch Bus" between sets. It was an excellent choice - like a palate cleanser to get ready for LCD Soundsystem and their more mellow dance groove. I read in interviews where the group strives to achieve the same sound live as on the albums. Besides lead singer James Murphy, there are six other musicians all playing a variety of instruments. They have a drum kit as well as three other percussion setups not to mention a variety of keyboards and samplers. They opened with "Dance Yourself Clean" from their latest effort This Is Happening. Like many of their songs it builds slowly up to a frentic climax and then takes you back down. All night they were excellent at building up the pace and keeping the crowd engaged - we did the pogo all through "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House." I would like to single out Nancy Wong who played many repetitive patterns on the keyboard with great style which could have sampled easily. The show was one big dance party complete with a gigantic mirrored disco ball! Murphy has said in interviews that this is the last time he will tour with LCD Soundsystem. He seemed genuinely touched by the loud support of the Orlando audience, so hopefully he'll change his mind and come back.