Uproarious concert moments are like solar eclipses – they’re difficult to find and see, but when they occur, few things prove to be so breathtaking and memorable. Alas, I will try and explain the deep, unbridled love and affection I have for James Murphy and his slacker-disco outfit LCD Soundsystem, by describing the epic, perennially uproarious night that, against all human understanding, ended the band as we know it.

At around 9 p.m., the band took the stage to 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love”, greeting the bonkers crowd with the opening synth chords from This Is Happening‘s opening track, “Dance Yrself Clean.” Two minutes later, Murphy, clad in a tight, black tux, ambled out onto the stage like a boozy, confused drifter that had a magically transcendent lexicon of songs swimming underneath his spiky blond hair.

The first set was a nice mix of LCD classics (“Drunk Girls”, “Time To Get Away”) and surprising rarities (“Tired”), ending in a euphoric rendition of “All My Friends” that had an entire Madison Square Garden crowd chanting the famous coda of “Where are your friends tonight?” to the point where it formed a beautiful wall of noise.

The second set, perhaps to the dismay of recent fans, was purely from-the-vault. The band performed “45:33,” a multi-parted dance track written for Nike that, with a full horn section and a choir, ironically, goes a bit longer than 45 minutes and 33 seconds. It was a defiant kiss goodbye to everyone that knew the band before “I Can Change” was a modern radio staple.

The third set was a seamless mix of LCD staples and previously unearthed head-scratchers.  For instance, the band sandwiched its Alan Vega cover of “Bye Bye Bayou” in between an Arcade Fire-assisted “North American Scum” and the This Is Happening epic “You Wanted A Hit.” However, never the one to shy away from the unconventional, Murphy was able to flawlessly pull it off.

After a thrashing, extended version of “Yeah (Crass Version)” led to another brief intermission, the band returned for their first set of encores, which included the grief-ridden classic “Someone Great”, the sarcastic, career-breaking “Losing My Edge”, and the This Is Happening closer “Home.” The band could have easily stopped there.

Yet, in true marathon fashion, the members came back. It was if they sensed the end was coming, but wanted to do everything in their power to prolong it. So, Murphy, in a fatigued voice, graced the stage for the final time ever and played “All I Want,” Harry Nilsson cover “Jump Into The Fire” and the inevitable show-ender “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” before the candle could officially burn out.

And just like that, nearly four hours after walking out to “I’m Not In Love,” LCD Soundsystem was dead. This realization hit like a ton of bricks.  

But like Murphy’s favorite parties, it’s the sweet, nostalgic aftertaste of the morning that brings us back to earth and removes our detached bodies from the realm of emotion. “Where are your friends tonight?” They’re right beside you, dormant in their current state, but still thrillingly alive as ever.

diversions@umdbk.com