LCD Soundsystem - Live Review

LCD Soundsystem: A Communal Rite of Sweat and Joy at Brixton

The O2 Academy Brixton on a hot June night can feel like a pressure cooker, and on Friday, June 13, 2025, LCD Soundsystem were the ones expertly turning up the heat. For the second night of their mammoth eight-show residency, James Murphy and his incredible band transformed the legendary venue into a cauldron of sweat, sound, and pure, unadulterated joy.

From the gentle, building pulse of opener Oh Baby, the atmosphere was electric. This wasn't just a gig; it felt like a homecoming. The band, settling into their temporary London home, played with the relaxed precision of masters of their craft. The one-two punch of I Can Change and You Wanted a Hit sent waves of energy through the sweltering room, the crowd moving as one hypnotic entity, singing back every word with fervent devotion.

James Murphy, as ever, was the reluctant maestro at the centre of it all. Part frontman, part sound engineer, part wry observer, he conducted the glorious chaos with a focused intensity. The setlist was a journey through the band’s iconic catalogue. The paranoid, driving beat of Tribulations had the floor bouncing, while the self-aware groove of Tonite felt more poignant and relevant than ever.

The centrepiece of any LCD show, Losing My Edge, was a masterpiece of wit and anxiety, delivered with a knowing smirk. It’s a song that has aged like fine wine, its themes of cultural relevance and aging hipsters hitting even harder in 2025. This was followed by the emotional one-two of Someone Great and Home, tracks that showcase the deep, melancholic heart that beats beneath the disco ball sheen of their music.

The encore was where the night truly ascended into legend. After a beautiful, unexpected cover of The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows, paying homage Brian Wilson's passing the day before, to the energy ramped up again with the frantic, joyous North American Scum. Then came the moment every fan anticipates: the drop in Dance Yrself Clean. The quiet, tense build-up, the shared anticipation, and then the sudden, glorious explosion of synth and bass - it’s a moment of pure musical catharsis that never gets old.

But it was the final song that truly defined my evening. All My Friends isn’t just a song; it’s an anthem for a generation. As the simple, repetitive piano line began, a palpable sense of unity washed over the crowd. It’s a seven-minute crescendo of euphoria, nostalgia, and bittersweet joy. Arms were thrown around shoulders, voices were strained from shouting the lyrics, and for those few perfect minutes, in that incredibly hot room, everyone was exactly where they were supposed to be.

A reminder of the power of live music to bring people together, to make them dance, think, and feel. For two hours, LCD Soundsystem didn’t just play a show; they created a space where everyone was home. Simply brilliant.