LCD Soundsystem perform at the Re:SET Festival, in Frost Amphitheater on the Stanford campus, Friday, June 2, 2023.
Charles Russo/SFGATE“Where are you friends tonight?”
Back in 2007, LCD Soundsystem asked that proverbial question on their breakout album “Sound of Silver.” On New Year’s Eve 2023, there’s a good chance your friends will be at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, as the band just announced two San Francisco shows, on Dec. 30 and 31. Opening acts include electroclash provocateur Peaches, and 2manydjs, whom frontman James Murphy collaborates with on the Despacio DJ tent at Coachella.
Although a New York City band through and through, LCD appear to have quite the affinity for the Bay Area. The pair of forthcoming holiday shows come on the heels of a festival performance in June on the Stanford campus, and an eight-show Bay Area residency last August, split between the Fox Theater in Oakland and the Warfield in San Francisco. But the band clearly is betting that a return visit won’t affect turnout, as Bill Graham’s 8,500-person capacity is at least three times that of the Fox or Warfield.
Founded by eternal hipster James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem epitomized the sound of NYC in the mid-2000s with their self-titled debut album, which combined disco rhythms, electronic influences and post-punk sarcasm for now-classic cuts like “Losing My Edge” and “Daft Punk is Playing at My House.” Over the next decade they released a slew of indie anthems before a (temporary) retirement.
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In the past year they’ve dropped a couple singles (“New Body Rhumba” and “Dancer” alongside rock band Idles), but are best known for their extended residencies, posting up in a city for a week rather than taking a more traditional approach to touring. James Murphy is also active as a DJ, and in San Francisco he’s been known to play surprise sets at the Mission’s natural wine outpost, Bar Part Time.
Tickets go on pre-sale Thursday and will be officially on sale on Friday.