It couldn't have been a better night.



This was by far the absolute *best* Chemical Brothers gig I've attended so far.



The whole weekend was just awesome, actually. So much happened I'm not sure where to begin, so hopefully stash, Darkstarexodus and Electronic Battle Warrior will fill in the blanks add more to what I have to offer. As of right now I've just unpacked all my clothes and threw them in the laundry hamper, and my butt is pretty much glued to my computer chair because if I try to stand up, I'm likely to fall over.



Let me just say right now that Darkstarexodus and Electronic Battle Warrior are great kids, really into it, full of enthusiasm and incredibly hardcore. What great company they are, fun to talk to, intelligent, agreeable and so sweet as well.



I've never danced so hard in my entire life, and now I'm paying the price. There's nothing that makes a person feel older than God than spending a weekend in a nonstop state of sleep deprivation, debauchery and hedonism!



OK.



stash, our bro-in-law Eric, Darkstarexodus and I drove to the venue around 11 o'clock. Surprisingly, the traffic getting there wasn't so bad as compared to previous years. It was 85 degrees, with some breezes and a perfect day for a festival.



We got a very good parking space, not too far from the exit. That meant we wouldn't have to spend an hour looking for our car and another 2 hours trying to maneuver out of the parking lot at the end of the day.



Standing in line was another story all together. The sun really started to beat down on our backs as we stood in the security check line to get into the venue. People were passing out these little makeshift fans that had a small Push The Button flat on one side, and a Coldplay one stapled to the other side. Quite a clever idea and a nice souvenier. There were several lines, each designated boy/girl, and more than enough security guards checking people's bags and backpacks. I was stuck in the girl line of course, and more often than not, the women are strapped with the duty of being the pack mule. eh hem. The line took forever and there was no shade. I really had to pee but I wasn't going to get out of line which was growing at about the rate of a hippy drum circle at a hippy jam fest. Finally, finally - after well over an hour, I was in! Yes! Finally!



Once inside, the first thing we did was get hydrated. I am used to 85 degree weather being from California, but it's arid out in the desert and the sun feels hotter than what I'm used to. I needed to conserve all the energy I could if I wanted to be alive and up for the Chems gig later that night.



After a while, we caught up with k-os who put on a really good set. What was cool about him is that he had a full back-up band and everything on stage was groovin. But we needed to take it easy, so we found a nice spot in a shady tent and lie down. I would've gone to sleep, it was so pleasant. Good music coming from everywhere, nice grass to lie in, shade, and stash's thigh as a pillow for my already weary head. I don't do well in heat at all.



Then the call from Electronic Battle Warrior comes, and he's standing in line. He asked some questions about security and so forth and said he'd call us as soon as he was through the line.



We chill for about 45 minutes, and EBW calls again. He made it inside! We tell him to meet us at the shade tent and he does.



I'll let him tell you everything he smuggled in. And I'll post a pic of him "obtaining" the goods later. And no, the goods I'm referring to weren't illicit! ;)



So now all that was missing from our posse was Nerdcore and her little crew. No such luck trying to reach her on the phone - we left a couple of messages, so we had to press on.



The hours dripped by. We were in the home stretch. Darkstarexodus and Electronic Battle Warrior were inches away from having their Chemical cherries popped, since this would be their first Chems gig. It's always super cool to be with people experiencing it for the first time.



Now I know you're all probably getting bored reading every tiny detail of my day, so I'll just cut to the chase.



We got to the huge Sahara tent, which was really a more intimate setting for the Chems compared to the open air main stage where I've previously seen their live gigs. Hernan Caatano was on the decks and I was just itching for his set to be over. Actually, I was praying his set would be over. His selection of tunes was decent, actually pretty good. What I didn't like was that the balance was off in the sound and the bass was so intense, I could feel my heart rattling about in my chest and I could feel my neck vibrating. My right ear is currently suffering. I love ground shaking intense bass but what happened last night during Caatano's set was utterly ridiculous. I wanted to dance, not hold my fingers in my ears! I tried loosening up a bit and started warming up, stretching my arms and preparing myself. I was jittery, excited, damn near deaf, and a bit anxious. The crowd seemed good so far, and more people were crowding around on the sides of the tent ready to make their move inside just before the Chems came on.



Our posse slowly inched our way foward. There was no getting any closer than about 4 or 5 people deep from the stage. Facing the stage, we were more to the right hand side.



Bring it on!! The Push The Button road crew started to prepare the stage for the Chems, and Electronic Battle Warrior was armed with his camera, just snapping as many pictures as he could.



Then the moment came. I heart melted and I felt warm and fuzzy inside when I heard Junior Parker's Tomorrow Never Knows - never heard that at Coachella before! Before I could stop myself, I started losing control. My hands were already in the air, I was already jumping up and down, and I was screaming. I mean, really screaming hard!



Tom and Ed came on stage and everyone went crazy. I could hear my husband cheering in back of me, my brother-in-law was freaking out harder than I'd ever seen him freak out, Darkstarexodus was already on another planet, and Battle Warrior went plain apeshit! There was a guy in front of me, he had pierced ears and septum, who just lost it. He would scream, bury his face in his hands, throw his fists in the air - he was really into it! It was such a great thing, because everyone around me was just so awesome and really up for it. I have never experienced a Chems gig that had such intense crowd energy. It was infectious. You couldn't not be where we were and not start screaming and cheering and throwing your hands in the air. If there was such a person in that whole place, then I am convinced they had no soul.



Tom and Ed were having a great night. I have never seen them smile as much as they did yesterday evening. They charged right into Hey Boy Hey Girl, and Ed's fists were in the air, smile from ear to ear. Tom seemed extra animated that evening, 30 seconds into the set and the facial expressions were on and he was yelling at his gear! The whole tent erupted "Here we GO!!!!!", fists in the air in unison, and everything was right with the world.



As for me, the problems of the past couple of weeks dissipated. I was standing on my toes, my arms were up over my head and I surrendered to everything going on around me.



Now in the past, I have heard and read about sound distortion when you are up front at a Chems gig. Not so with last night. Everything was clear as a bell, everything was balanced and mixed properly, and the massive tent provided some shelter from the sky yet was open enough to create a big unobstructed sound without a building's acoustics getting in the way.



Next up was Get Yourself High. By now we were all high - even the sober ones. The pierced guy in front of me turned around and said, "OH MY GOD!!! Yes!!!!!!" You should've heard the tent screaming "HIGH"!!! Matched with the vocals coming from the soundsystem, its resonance was incredible. It was massive, larger than life! It was the crowd response I've always dreamt of, and the Chems were loving every second of it.



The Big Jump got an even larger response which I didn't think was humanly possible. But I guess when you get enough humans into one area and everyone's exposed to such incredible music - anything's possible. During the vocal sample "The Big Jump", everyone jumped on "Jump". It was like the ground was cresting like a wave, and everyone was riding it. Oh man oh man. It was huge!!



Galvanize. This is so incredibly sweet live. Not a soul around me was holding back. With fists raised high, everyone was pushing the invisible buttons in the air. Including Tom and Ed.



Both of them were very active on the stage. They'd often get out of gear position and walk around, making eye contact, waving to people, smiling a lot, patting each other on the backs. Usually at a Chems gig I see Ed doing a large portion of crowd control, but last night, they were brotherly equals in that department. The crowd ate it up.



I think the next song they played was Music:Response. There were sounds emitting from my mouth that I swear I've never made before. I would find myself gasping, uttering orgasmic sounding "ah... my gawd!!, "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" and "Yyyeeeaaaaaahhhhh!!!!" Physically it was getting to be a tight squeeze, but I never felt uncomfortable or threatened. The crowd were really friendly, respectful and so totally into it. A guy to my right gave me a nod and said into my ear, "This is a great gig, isn't it?" It was so great watching the Chems gig newbies (Darkstar and Warrior) because by now they were totally immersed and into the music - just as enthusiastic as I was my first time and every time I've seen the Chems. I was afraid to put my arms down for fear I would lose my balance, so in the air they stayed. Much like that guy on the cover of the Surrender album. heh.



I'm not done, but I have to take a break for a minute - so I'll be right back!

Thank God. I'm very glad to hear that it went well. I knew it was still possible. Sounds like last night's gig was just what the Chems needed after Friday's fiasco. I'm glad they had an appreciative audience. I assume we can count on continued Coachella appearances from 'em so long as they continue to make music...

Pretty sure the next song was Block Rockin Beats. Again, the fist were in the air at the cue of "Beats" and I saw people who were so taken with everything going on, they were not only jumping, but they were shaking their heads in a sort of overwhelmed "I can't believe it" fashion.



The place was still erupting like a lava flow, and the noise was so intense, my screams were lost within the crowd. When I wasn't jumping in the air like a pogo stick, I was on my tip toes, my back arched, my arms reaching high in an impossible grab for the green laser lights flickering overhead.



There were times when I felt that if I jumped in the air, I'd float up to the tent ceiling. But I didn't care, I was riding that wave and what's the point holding back when you can give everything you've got.



Glad to see other people felt the same way. ;)



Tom and Ed were playful, and Ed wiggled his fingers in the green lasers, big smile crossing his face.



There was a snippet of Leave Home and the impossible was made possible - the crowd erupted once again, a little larger than before. That led into... I think it was Come Inside. And people freaked out. I freaked out and let my voice give it's all. I threw my head back so far as I was howling, I hit my husband on the chest! The woman's lips on the screen were speaking to the audience, like she was seducing them in a way.



By now, due to temporary memory loss, I'm sure I've butchered the set list - but I'm gonna have to say the next song was Believe. I knew this one would own my body and soul if I were to hear this live. And good lord, yes it did. I couldn't help but sing along. And I don't know where I was getting the strength to do this, but my arms will still over my head. Every "beep" and "bwooop" in the song were amplified by Tom and Ed's hand gestures, and the audience just followed along in sync. Toward the end of the song, there was that electric, deep dark rumble that seemed to pulse from the ground, through my feet, up my legs and settled right into my heart. I'm pretty sure if I were hooked up to a ekg machine, I would've been diagnosed with a heart murmur. For once, the crowd seemed to go silent with the exception of a scream here and there. Then the sonic explosion of high pitched wails and beeps came, and people were off their feet. I think I may have poked my husband in the eye a few times because I was reaching the point of being so taken away and so disoriented, when I'd jump I'd have to right myself by throwing my arms a little backward.



Ah yes, Temptation and Star Guitar. A song that allows for a little breathing space. People were clapping to the rhythm, and those lovely stars from the visuals filled up the room. It was as brilliant as I remember from the Come With Us tour, the crowd ooo'd and awwww'd, gasped and sighed when "you should feel what I feel, you should take what I take" came in. This song quickly became my live favorite at the last gig, and all those feelings I had when I heard this live for the first time came flooding back at that precise moment. I turned to my brother-in-law who seemed to have left his body, and he was swaying with his arms in the air. I glanced behind me, and it was like a sea of arms and wiggling fingers.



The song tapered down to a low hum, and the robotic voice from the intro to Surface to Air gently eased it's way into the sonic framework. I know it sounds cheesy, but it was like the air was so overcome with emotion we had a group hug. Even the dancing strangers got into the hugging action, and everyone quickly became brothers and sisters. Electronic Battle Warrior looked like he was near tears as he grabbed onto my hands and gave them a shake. I heard stash say, "ohohohoh my god... oh..." and I put my arms up and reached for his, and we stood there with our arms held high and our hands held together. This song was so absolutely beautiful to hear live. I've heard the Chile set, I've heard some other bootlegs, and I've heard it on the cd a million times by now - and each in their own way has done the song some justice. But compared to last night... In a live setting, it takes on a whole new form emotionally. There's a part in the song, maybe you know what part I'm talking about - where the melody sort of drops away and all that's left is the rhythm and that gentle, soft and reassuring synth line pulses in. During that part, the crowd was silent. I couldn't interrupt the song with my screaming, and I found myself in such a state that when I opened my eyes I couldn't tell how long they were actually closed. Completely enraptured by the music. It wasn't hard to let this song sweep you away into another moment where the world really is a better place.



Tom and Ed worked Hoops like Fuji Fest. Those kicking mules appeared on screen and everyone was yanked from their Surface to Air slumber. People were awake, and freaking out. I nearly lost my shit. It was time to excercise my vocal chords again, as well as my legs. And when my hands weren't running through my hair to cool down my scalp and neck, they were still in the air. Tom had this maniacal look on his face, it was almost sinister like he knew he was owning us like the puppets were were, like he was saying, "Oh yeah... I'm gonna give it you muahahahaha!!!" And that they did, the response affirmed that. I don't remember this song being as intense as it was during the Come With Us tour, but last night, it owned my soul. There were parts during the breathing space of the song where the visuals of birds floated on the screens. But they fluttered away off screen and onto the tent's sides and ceilings. Talk about being immersed in not only sound, but vision as well. Wow!



"You are all my Children Nooooowwwwww!!!" said the sinister clown as his eyes scanned the audience. Everyone was stomping, cheering, acting like fools, and Tom and Ed were very pleased - you could tell it on their faces and in their outstretched arms. More audible gasps from me, because this song is 100 times moe intense than the recorded version. Ownt, totally ownt. The thunderous galloping drums felt like a herd of horses were making their way underfoot. It was overwhelming, but deliciously so. I was.... oh my god!!! Freaking out to put it mildly.



The evangelical Golden Path was next. And I am glad to have witnessed and heard such a spectacle. Tom and Ed on the pupit, mouthing the words "please for give me I never meant to hurt you" with their arms reaching out to the audience. And the audience responding in kind. For the duration of the song, that tent was turned into a place of worship, and the crowd were born again through sound. It was such a great moment, one that can't be put into words.



Then it came. The stained glass images appeared on the screen of the new church. I couldn't believe my ears, I thought they were deceiving me. But I knew it to be true when I heard the gentle opening refrain of... The Private Psychedelic Reel. I almost cried. Almost. I had to be strong in order to give the gig my once and for all! I felt a tingling sensation move through my body and I felt like there was jelly in my knees. My husband grabbed onto my waist and said, "Here you go Mia, the Private Psychdelic Reel." I thought if it were to all end right at that second, I could die a happy woman. This is a Coachella first, as you might remember in my babblings about previous Coachellas when the sets ended with either Sunshine Underground or The Test. But the Reel! Oh my god. It was so much better than I'd ever imagined it would be. You know that picture of Jeanie that's in her sig, the one where her mouth is as big as her head? Well, that was me last night during this song. "Oh my god, I didn't think they'd play this song... I can't believe it..." I'm almost afraid to know what sounds were coming out of my mouth, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway because people were screaming so hard and so loud, the only thing that mattered was what was coming out of those speakers. High fives all around in the crowd. This was the moment I've been waiting for, and last night proved it was worth the wait. I don't think my body knew quite how to respond. One one hand I wanted to just stand there and savor every second of the song, on the other hand I was so happy I didn't care if I was jumping around like a mad fool. Tom and Ed were loving the crowd. Tom pulled out his keyboard, walked to the side of his gear and held it toward the crowd right in front of us. He didn't say anything, but his face was exressive enough it appeared he was asking us "well, and just what would you like me to do with this thing?" and Ed seemed to be enjoying that moment, laughing with a big smile across his lips. Then Tom just went mental, attacking the thing and that mess of delicious noise sputtered and revved around the room. It was heaven, then all too soon it was back to reality.



Tom and Ed walked around the stage and shook people's hands and chatted with some people against the rails. Everybody where we were started hugging each other, just overwhelmed with emotion and weary from expelling all that energy from the set. Electronic Battle Warrior managed to get Ed's attention, which was way cool. A shirtless guy with chin length blonde hair walked up to me and said "I shook Tom and Ed's hands. I shook both of their hands..." and he grabbed my hands as if he could, for a second, pass that vibe foward. It was such a sweet gesture.



I just... I can't really say anything more.



Except thank you Tom and Ed. Thank you for a wonderful night and a wonderful show, thank you for giving it your all, and thank you soooooo much for playing the Reel!!



The audience really helped make the night, so if I could thank all those people around me I would. If it weren't for them and their enthusiasm, it wouldn't have been the brilliant night that it was.



And thank you to all that bothered reading everything I wrote here. I had to get it out somehow! ;) I know I got carried away and probably left out a million things, but maybe in a while (like when I've had more than 3 hours sleep) it'll come back to me.





There's a little bit more stuff I want to say but I am sooooo tired...

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I wish I could've been there. Dear God I wish I could've been there. Sounds exactly like the sort of manic, communal love-fest that I remember a Chems concert being.

Wohohoohoo! Thanks a trillion and then some, whirlygirl! that's a fucking ace review. :D :D :D



I'm so glad the gig went down perfect for those that were lucky enough to attend. Ah and you got to experience TPPR live finally... words can't describe eh!

WHAAA i just wanna say that i am going to start reading everything now :D hahaha

I am still reading

i can cry :'( whirly i loooooove you so great how you write everything down :'( i will continue reading

Okay i am finished. Sorry for the triple post but reading this made me so...argh emotional hahaha that i just had to post.

Fucking hell, I feel as if i was there and in this moment whirly , stash EBW , and Dark , i love ya'll so much hahaha , cause i know how ya'll felt and whirly how you wrote it down so great , i felt the emotion the excitment like i was there !!!!! It's so funny cause i recognize so many things you wrote down , when you get so crazy you just dont know what to do with yourself hahahaa. Fucking hell man really i am blown away by this revieuw. My own chemical afterglow is glowing more than ever after reading this. thanks whirly for being so great and took the time to write everything in such detail...!!



WAAAAH!

20 minutes took me to read whirly's book. :P X-D



Whirly, just one word, GREAT.



Some people might get bored (I doubt it) about reading all you've written, I've really enjoyed it, you didn't only describe what you've felt but also what other people felt.

For me, all you've written is great, I've never been to a chem's concert, so the only way I know how they are, are because of videos and people's comments.



What can I tell you?

It's "just" music, don't even think about what you're doing, don't even think what other people might say about you, just dance, jump, shout, do whatever you feel like doing!!! ;)



I already have a big smile in my face, and this just because of what you've written, I cannot imagine what would happen to my mind and body if I ever have the oportunity to see the chems live. :)



I really love what you've written, and I'm very happy for all of you that went there and had a great time! :)

Well whirly after reading your essay on the Chems gig a new letter has to be invented to start the alphabet to grade this review.

I read it with a smile from ear to ear reliving that gig with all of you guys over there. Amazing...... Darkstarexodus and EBW; welcome in the realm of Chemical live. Live music will never be the same again :D

incredible review whirly read it all . your joy for the live set isinfectious i want to see them sooner

Nice one whirly u had my hairs standing up just from reading it!!! Any pics???

Photos?

Aw, you guys... Thanks so much for reading. I know I got carried away with typing but I couldn't help myself!





Also have a little bit more I want to say -



After the show, we walked out and around the back right hand side of the tent. We noticed the fence gate was slightly ajar, so we thought "what the hell - let's go inside!"



Security didn't seem to care that us normal non-vip people were wandering about backstage. The party out back was already started. Actually there were a few parties - an URB magazine party and a Spin magazine one were a couple we saw. There was no use trying to actually get into the parties so we didn't even try. Even though we were told by security that if we had $50 to give him, we could get in.



Instead, we got our bearings back by sitting on a bench which was a much needed rest. We yapped about the show for a while, trying to accurately describe in words what we just saw. We were still a little speechless and unable to verbalize our thoughts and form full sentences. After some time we decided to move and walk around the backstage area. At this point I wasn't really expecting to meet Tom and Ed, since we heard they split right after the show. But just walking around and taking it easy was a good way to recover from the show. Plus, why go back to the car and wait in a line of traffic trying to get out of the venue when you can be chillin in the backstage area.



We walked the grounds and found ourselves out back of the Sahara tent where the Chems played. The roadies were working hard, busting their asses hauling all of the Chems' equipment - which was packed neatly inside of trunks - into the back of a truck. I've always been interested in watching the roadies do their thing because in my opinion, they are the foundation for the show. They are a team and they help make all that magic happen.



"Mia, go tell the roadies that you're whirlygirl and that you want to say hi to Tom and Ed!"



I thought better of it, and I couldn't bring myself to tell these roadies, "Hey, say hi to Tom and Ed for me" and blah blah blah. I don't know, it just didn't seem right to do that. But I really wanted to say something without being too interruptive and like an annoying fangirl. I walked over near the line of trunks waiting to be put into the truck and paused til one of the roadies didn't have his hands full. I said, "Excuse me... I just wanted to thank you for helping put on such an incredible show. It wouldn't be possible without you guys, and I just wanted to thank you for that."



I hope I didn't sound like a complete knob! The roadie, who was wearing a black sweatshirt with Chemical Brothers written in dark purplish-pink on the front said, "Thank you. That's really good to hear, it really makes all the hard work seem worthwhile..." And he shook my hand, what a darling! I might've said something else, but I can't remember. I was still buzzing. The Chems equipment was right there in front of me, neatly packed away and ready for the trip to Mexico. Rest assured robot.mx, the gear is in good hands! ;)



So, if you see a roadie, thank him for a job well done - and spread the love!

I'm loading some pictures right now.



'stash was in charge of the camera, and we were packed so tightly (and he was trying to keep me in balance) that there was no way he could take pictures without breaking our camera. So no pics of the gig yet.



But you can count on Electronic Battle Warrior. That kid was snapping away!! And he's quite tall too, so I'm sure he got some good shots.

CANT WAIT FOR THE PICS! Hope to see some pics of you guys during the gig aswell ! And Whirly that is so cute u said that to the roadie !!!

At the Motel 6 - Darkstarexodus, me, bro-in-law Eric, Stephanie and her boyfriend Gary in the white hat (I'll let 'stash tell that dramatic tale, it's a good one!)





the day of, getting ready to head out - Darkstar and 'stash

There's a fucking animal in my backseat - Eric and Darkstar on the way to the venue





Lot E is where you wanna be

The Sahara Tent - the Chems were here!!!

Chillin' Coachellans





It's high art!!