Photos by Jim Mimna
The Scene: Despite the Christmas parties that were raging all over town and a number of good shows packing venues on Colfax and beyond, the 1up-Colfax drew a solid crowd on Saturday night when North American Scum took the stage to perform two sets of LCD Soundsystem . The crowd was an eclectic mix of regulars, hippies, hipsters and 30 somethings looking to spend a few hours with the music of a band that called it quits at the height of their career. There’s no doubt that those who made it out for this were glad they did.
Opener: Ableminds. As we walked in we were met by the intricately meshed sounds of electronica and live instrumentation as Jordan Linit and Charlie Mertens piloted Ableminds through some unique waters. Heavy beats and looping snyths filled the air and provided a background for scorching guitar solos as these guys got the room moving and primed for the main event. While they showed Funk influences, their sound was dominated by an undeniably sophisticated EDM vibe that was at once fresh and refreshing in a scene so saturated with DJs and producers that don’t bring anything new to the table.
North American Scum: I was fortunate enough to catch LCD Soundsystem live three times, the last of which was a mere half block from the 1up at The Fillmore back in 2010. So, to come back to this part of Colfax to hear some of my favorite songs was a bit of a walk down memory lane. While I wasn’t really sure really what to expect from a “cover band” playing the music of one of my all time favorite bands, these guys lived up the incredibly high bar that was set for them.
Featuring members of The Cosby Sweater, Digital Tape Machine and Spare Parts, this band is a Chicago jam supergroup of sorts that is bursting at the seems with talent and that became immediately apparently when they took the stage and broke into “You Wanted A Hit” from LCD’s final, glorious album, This Is Happening. This passionate “fuck you” to the record industry that has bastardized a once proud and respectable business by dictating what bands create was delivered with a passion and energy that James Murphy himself would have been proud of. Damn it was good . . . and it didn’t stop there.
As the set moved on, the group delivered inspired versions of “Yeah” and the onomatopoeiac gem “Pow Pow.” Despite the latter being truncated a bit, I was blown away by the band’s interpretation of the LCD material; they had the crowd pumped up, dancing and singing along with nearly every lyric. It wasn’t quite like dancing barefoot in the grass at Coachella as James Murphy healed our souls under a shimmering disco ball, but it brought me back to that place and I loved it.
After dropping “Us Vs Them” and “Time To Get Away,” North American Scum wrapped up their first set with a thrilling take on the song they pilfered their name from and as the set came to an end I was bitterly disappointed that I had to get home to relieve a babysitter. I used to think it was rare that a cover band capture my attention so completely, but it happened just a few months ago with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and now again with these guys, so maybe times are changing. Whatever the reason, if you are a fan of LCD Soundsystem this band might be the closest you’ll ever come to seeing them again.
Energy: A-
Musicianship: A
Sound: A-
Stage Presence: B
Set/Light Show: B
Overall: A-
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