LCD Soundsystem at Ibiza Rocks' 11th Birthday Review

Photo: LCD Soundsystem at Ibiza Rocks Credit: Luke Dyson

For over a decade, Ibiza Rocks has catered for the more alternative muso, hosting artists including The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Courteeners and many more. Wednesday July 6th saw the brand celebrate its 11th birthday, with a line up to match the magnitude of the milestone.

Ibiza Rocks' resident DJs Doorly and Patrick Nazemi each played a set to warm up for the main attraction - an act that is arguably the biggest band that Ibiza Rocks have hosted thus far – LCD Soundsystem, who took to the stage to rapturous applause. The sun hadn’t long set and the stage lights and huge disco ball looked beautiful in the dusk light.

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Kicking straight in with ‘Us V Them’ (above), it was immediately apparent that the old LCD Soundsystem magic was back. From there they plunged straight into huge hits ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ and I Can Change’.

Band leader James Murphy was in a pretty playful mood too, poking fun at members of the band and cracking jokes in between tracks. He seemed really at ease with the Ibiza Rocks crowd, admitting that they really didn’t know what to expect when they were asked to play in Ibiza then later confirming it was one of the most memorable sets of their careers.

‘Tribulations’ send the crown into a frenzy. At one point it all got a bit too much for one reveller who jumped off the balcony into the pool – definitely not a move anyone would advise, not only for the risk factor, but also in fear of the stern telling off that was on its way from a team of very angry security personnel. 

‘Someone Great’ brought the tempo down and each person watching seemed to hang on to each lyric, in awe of the beautiful composition of the track. If there is one thing you can say about LCD Soundsystem, it's that they're all masters of their own trade. Each member is highly skilled with their instrument but each song is so intrinsically put together that it is an art form in a completely different league from many artists riding high in current charts.

Mid set they seemed to rewind to the start of their career with 'Losing My Edge' (below) and the relatively mellow 'New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down' - a beautiful rendition relying heavily on that lead vocal from James Murphy, a stark contrast to the strong guitar, bass and keys of previous tracks. 

The set ended with a double whammy of 'Dance Yrself Clean' and 'All My Friends', during which the crowd's excitement shook the venue to its foundations. 

‘All My Friends’ has always been LCD’s most iconic track and the lyrics touch home to many. As the music played out and the lights brightened, you could see how much love was in that crowd. It was so moving to see people embracing and singing the song to their friends and loved ones close by them and belt out the main chorus in the main direction of the stage, dedicating each breath and over exaggerated arm movement to the band that had just stolen their hearts. 

Ibiza is known for its dance music culture and since the 80s has been the place where that genre has thrived, a place for DJs to test out new material or make a name for themselves. Ibiza has always been a Mecca for dance and on the bucket list for every electronic artist, but hasn't traditionally had the same pull for live acts. Ibiza Rocks has undoubtedly been changing that over the years, and continues to shift that perception.

It’s a testament to Ibiza Rocks and its bold vision that the brand has continued to thrive and is now an essential destination for many a reveller on their annual pilgrimage to the White Isle. With line ups of the calibre of this one, it's easy to see why. We can’t wait to see what year 12 brings.

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