LCD Soundsystem is known for groovy electronic rock that pumps up fans on the dance floor. But now the Grammy-winning, New York-born band may also win fans over with something else, a new taco that’s only available in the area for a few months.
The band, which is performing shows in Los Angeles through Sunday, has teamed with HomeState, a small local chain that specializes in Texas-inspired food, to create a limited-edition taco named The American Dream.
“The band wanted to do a taco version of a classic New York City bodega sandwich, which is typically a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich,” said Andy Valdez, marketing director for the restaurant, which started in Los Angeles in 2013.
The taco is named after the band’s most recent album, “The American Dream,” and it’s made with bacon, egg, American cheese, Frank’s RedHot sauce and ketchup on a HomeState flour tortilla.
“It’s just a perfect combination of salt and sweetness, salt from the bacon and the hot sauce. It’s just this amazing umami sensation,” Valdez said.
It will be available through January at HomeState’s eight locations in Atwater Village, Culver City, Highland Park, Hollywood, Oceanside, Pasadena, Playa Vista and Sherman Oaks. The collaboration is part of the restaurant’s long-running Band Taco Program, which brings together music and tacos in support of local charities. So far the restaurant has created tacos with acts such as Spoon, Questlove, Phoebe Bridgers, Vampire Weekend and Chicano Batman.
“We wanted to combine our love of music and food to support communities,” Valdez said. “And also, we had a lot of artists coming to the restaurant naturally, so we were like, there’s something there that’s really cool and happening so we just put it together.”
But the chain doesn’t collaborate with just any musicians. Valdez said they look for three qualities in a band before teaming up for a new taco. One requirement is that the band’s music is on the restaurant’s playlist, and someone from the band needs to be a customer at the restaurant, plus they must be nice.
“With LCD Soundsystem, even though they live in New York when they’re in L.A. they come through and spend some time here,” she said.
One dollar from every American Dream taco ordered will go to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides financial assistance to musicians and music industry workers facing physical, mental, disability or age-related problems.
For more information go to myhomestate.com