LCD Soundsystem, Brixton Academy. 20th June 2025

It’s been 25 years since I was last inside Brixton Academy. It’s a core memory, watching Motorhead with the person I’ve now been married to for 23 years. I’ve a feeling that on a number of levels, watching LCD Soundsystem tonight will be an emotional experience. Not least because the traffic here from Manchester was pretty bad and I’d forgotten how long it can take to fight through central London… AND there’s a queue that wraps around the entire block to endure before getting inside. I’d be quite thankful I’ve got a seat! But everyone’s stood up and honestly it’s so hot I can barely breathe. This was not perhaps the emotional experience I had in mind. I walk in as they’re bouncing through ‘I Can Change’, having missed the first song. I am not bouncing though, it takes me until midway though ‘You Wanted a Hit’ for me find some rhythm to my breathing, never mind my feet. I’ve come a long way for this though and I’m determined to enjoy it as the chorus drops and lights fire around the sold out room, highlighting the somewhat bizarre decor. The stage is in the mouth of a Victoria facade that gives off castle vibes. It’s like a cheap shopping centre designer has been in, there’s even fake foliage. I don’t recall it looking like this for Motorhead. ‘Tribulations’ sounds great, they look great. There’s something industrial about the way LCD arrange their stage, everything is compartmentalised, a little like their sound. They’re precise. As ‘Tonite’ starts, people are stripping off as the bass gets brutal and I’m wondering how long before I join them. Introducing ‘Thrills’, James acknowledges the heat and thanks us up on the balcony for enduring the energy sapping claustrophobia, that’s what it feels like and I won’t lie, it’s not pleasant. What this place lacks in decor and AC, it makes up for in sound though. It’s bloody good, even upstairs as the distorted synths go head to head with James’ yelps and three drummers. James makes me look on in envy as he straddles a fan front of stage and ‘On Repeat’ begins. It’s here I surrender, this beats The Prodigy a few years back for my hottest gig ever and I resign to the fact that there’s nothing left to do but embrace it. They’re putting a shift in too and I assure you I’m mentioning the temperature only as much as James does between songs. ‘American Dream’ changes the tone from bangers, to symphonic melodies. It’s rather delightful as people start to sway, although I’m half expecting a few to collapse. ‘New Body Rhumba’ slips into ‘Someone Great’, which really does sound incredible, this is what I wanted for my first time in a room with them. We’re getting to the business end as they glide into ‘Losing My Edge’. This song is all breakdown, but fuck me it’s glorious live and fun too with Daft Punk and Yazoo interludes. The mirrorball kicks in with a cheer on ‘Home’ and I shead my shirt, I’m not alone and everyone has their hands in the air filling in the “Ahhhhh”s, it’s an almost spiritual moment that takes us into the break, where I find water in the air conditioned bar. Why the fuck isn’t this piped into the main room!!? The encore kicks off with ‘North America Scum’ as I wade back into the heat and neck the water inside 20 seconds. ‘X-ray Eyes’ does appear to lose the visibly thinning crowd. It’s just too hot upstairs and quite frankly it feels dangerous. There’s a number of people in the bar that look to have just given up. ‘Dance Yrself Clean’ seems slightly ironic with the sweat literally pouring off everyone. Maybe it’s got into the electrics too as half way through, the power is lost on everything but percussion. Fuck that, it’s not gonna stop this crowd who take over the vocal in truly stunning fashion. It’s chilling and makes the electro thump even sweeter as it kicks in louder and heavier than before. It’s one of the best live moments I’ve ever witnessed. James knows it, acknowledging the crowds improvation skills as he alters the opening lyrics to ‘New York, I love You but You’re Bringing Me Down’. It explodes in a cavalcade of pure theatrical bombast, false ends, the lighting desk losing their shit, the crowd go nuts, I can see people side of stage in the wings going bananas. Euphoria. After over 2 hours, they close with ‘All My Friends’ and I feel like I’ve made a few thousand new ones. “Where are your friends tonight” sings James, well we’re all right here, granted 10 stone lighter than when we came in. It’s an absolutely magical set and well worth what turns out to be 8 hours driving, but I’ve never been so relieved to get out of a venue in my life! I certainly won’t forget this one.