Friday, May 4th, 2018 | The Hollywood Bowl
I’ve never been a fan of watching performances in big amphitheatres because they tend to be overcrowded, expensive for tickets with the worst view, and the energy in the crowd can usually be a drag because if given the option to sit, people usually choose to sit. I much prefer, smaller intimate venues where you always get a perfect view of the stage. However, when I heard Yeah Yeah Yeahs and LCD Soundsystem would be playing on the same night, I thought it would be better to go than completely miss out on the opportunity of seeing LCD Soundsystem since I’d never seen them before.
It’s great to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs back on tour. I’ve tried seeing Yeah Yeah Yeahs several times in the past, but their tickets would always sell out faster than I could check out. I finally got to see them for the first time last October at the Growlers Six Festival after their return on stage together since 2013. I babysat a spot in the front row to guarantee the perfect set. Karen O’s growl is not one that can be copied. Her smile and energy are contagious. You can feel her genuine love for performing on stage for her fans. I could watch her again and again.
The Hollywood Bowl seats 17,500 people and it looked like every seat was filled that night. This was my first time at this amphitheatre, and although I was skeptical at first, I was fortunate to be seated mid-level, near a giant LCD screen, which made up for the stage feeling like it was 1000 miles away. Not bad for last minute, $50 tickets. Again, Karen O’s performance did not disappoint. Even though I wasn’t front row like I was the first time I saw her, I still felt the same energy and excitement. Everyone was jumping up and down and singing along. (see below)
By the end of the night, LCD Soundsystem stole the show. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to see them live after they announced their return in 2016 since their retirement in 2011. Lead singer, James Murphy, told the crowd this would be their first time performing with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs which was disappointing to him because they’ve known each other for years. We were in for a treat as they performed “How Do You Sleep” from their new album, American Dream, for the first time ever.
The seven-member band from Brooklyn, New York had the audience dancing, jumping, and echoing every lyric of each song. LCD Soundsystem is one of those bands that sound amazing when you’re blasting them on your speakers, but are 150 times better live. They should definitely be on your “Must-see Bands Before I Die” list… or before they decide to go into retirement again.
If you’d like to see what you missed out on, watch “Dance Yrself Clean” in the video below.
