Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem at the Hollywood Bowl

Though the Hollywood Bowl is usually home to the finer of the fine arts—like the LA Philharmonic—and more mainstream, nostalgic acts like Hall and Oates (who played their recently), last week the Bowl played home to two of indie rock's best bands: Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem.

LCD Soundsystem | Photo: Elise Feuerbacher

For those who have never seen an LCD Soundsystem set, you might think it's all laptops and the occasional cowbell, but LCD's live band—featuring a bassist, two guitarists, a larger-than-life drum kit, keyboards and, yes, a cowbell—can rival the energy of any rock band. Taking the stage just before 8pm, Murphy and company warmed up the crowd with Sound of Silver's "Us v Them". Then, casting off his constricting blazer, Murphy launched into the party anthem "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House".

LCD Soundsystem | Photo: Elise Feuerbacher

Murphy careened around the stage occasionally slamming on the drummer's cymbals and impressing the growing crowd with his perfect falsettos and unpretentious rockstar persona. The band played with blistering enthusiasm and churned out hits from both album's in the band's catalogue. Capping off the dance-heavy set was crowd favorite "New York I Love You," a slow, off-kilter ode to Murphy's NYC.

Arcade Fire | Photo: Elise Feuerbacher

After a brief intermission with a waxing moon as the spotlight above the open-air amphitheater, red neon lights flashed on as Arcade Fire took the stage. With a two-person horn section in tow, the Montreal band, which was decked out in black with stripes of neon tape, stood nine members strong as they launched into "Black Mirror" and the jaunty "Keep the Car Running" from their sophomore album, Neon Bible. The band seamlessly moved between dramatic crescendos, political zings—with Win quipping "This song's for Governor Bush" before launching into the scathing "Intervention"—and moments of humility. "We remember playing fucking Spaceland like it was yesterday, so this is pretty overwhelming." All in all, an amazing performance from an unassuming indie act turned mainstream contender.