I was there
In the midst of my favorite social peers. We were together, willing to celebrate the joyous event. Stephen Colbert smiled gallantly at the illustrious young audience. One could feel the love in the air. It was Valentine’s Day, and everyone sat in anticipation for the musical guest, a rarity for the Colbert Report. LCD Soundsystem was going to play, but first we’d have to play Colbert’s game, being willing participants in laughter, applause. Usually the musical guests tended to be bands less authentic, less hip. After the Daily Show had the Grammy-winning ‘Arcade Fire’ perform, Colbert had to step his game up.
I was there
As Stephen Colbert made some funny jokes about Muburak. These varied in effectiveness. Honestly, I felt like all the jokes about Muburak had already been made as Colbert got ripped from my side last week. Feeling confused, scared, wondering why Colbert would just take off a random week like that. Thankfully it didn’t last too long.
I was there
Listening to Colbert mention something I’d explored earlier. My article about Paul Wooten got mentioned, kind of. Originally the New York Times wrote about it, but my commentary on it was vaguely more humorous. Copying some of my questions, like how old is too young to sue a kid, was a nice touch. Part of me felt a certain kinsman ship to Mr. Colbert. He ‘got it’.
I was there
Watching with eager anticipation as some 41 year old came on stage. This would be James Murphy’s last television broadcast appearance as LCD Soundsystem. Good thing I saw them at Terminal 5, before they started asking for mortgage down payments in order to pay for tickets. But I sat, quivering with pure uncut excitement as this disheveled mid-age man explained after LCD Soundsystem he wanted to follow his dream. Even at his old age, he felt he could still make coffee, could still run DFA Records, and still pump up the jams of varying degrees of intensity.
I was there
Hearing the first bits of the song “I can change” I thought how appropriate. But really, I don’t want James Murphy to change. I want him to continue to have his awesome band until it dies an inglorious death. Each synthesizer makes it worth it, all 8 of them. Multiple drummers, random woman as a ‘romantic interest’, LCD Soundsystem had it all. Playing a short song bothered me a wee bit, as the audience began to get both ‘hot’ and ‘bothered’ by the intensity of their performance. We wanted a hit, but we knew he doesn’t do hits. Indeed it was tough, because we hadn’t had enough, but then he hit the road.