What a night. Got there early and heard most of DJ Icon's set. Good stuff - breaks galore. Plus, damn she's hot.



This was my first time at Mezzanine. Good place for the show 'cause it wasn't TOO big. Plus, they have a sick SICK sound system. Crowd was alright - a bit too yuppified for my taste. Walking around and hearing conversations, I didn't hear anyone actually talking about the Chems and their music. Oh well...



I've been a big big fan of the Chemical Brothers since 1995. Seen them live three times, including taking a trip out to Red Rocks in CO where Fatboy Slim opened with a DJ set, but never seen them DJ. Got some great rare vinyl of theirs from back then and I used to trade tapes with this guy Andy Larson who used to develop their official web site.



Chemical Brothers came on at 12:30 and rocked it. Each would spin a few tracks and then switch off. I thought Tom's tracks, showmanship, and work on the mixer really stood out over Ed. He would cut the bass on the EQ for a few phrases, get everyone riled up and then kick it in again - driving the place crazy. DJ-wise, Tom had to backspin out of slight trainwrecks a couple of times - happens to the best of us ;)



Not much breakbeats at all - mainly 4 on the floor pounding stuff. They only played a couple of their own tracks. But, the track selection was awesome and they really took you on a journey with the tracks - building up over the course of a few, then bringing it back down for the next build up. Awesome. They really haven't forgotten their roots.



BUT, there was a HUGE disappointment near the end of their set - around 2:30am or so. They had a sequencer/sampler hooked up in addition to the turntables that they'd been playing with back and forth during the set. Then, they basically abused the use of it and, consequently, the trust of their fans. Ed was up there and they started playing a track (believe they started with the 'take that motherf@#$er!') from their DJ mix CD "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" (which I've been listening to again recently) and I was like "nice way to integrate that into their set". Then the mix into the next track was exactly the same into the same next track as on the CD. Hm. Curious. Then, the next mix was exactly the same into the same next track as on the CD. This went on for like 15 minutes or so, all the while Ed is up there pretending like he's making the mixes happen by turning knobs on the mixer, while it's still sounding exactly like what's on the CD. And, of course, he wasn't changing any records during this time.



This REALLY pissed me off. It's bad enough that they were essentially playing their mix CD for that period, but for Ed to pretend that he was making the mixes happen was just the icing on the shit cake. Unbelievable.



Then I thought back to the exact same extended mix of Chemical Beats that I've heard every time I've seen them live, while they're both running around twisting knobs, and it kind of made sense...



Tom, Ed, I love you guys and I've loved your music for years, but that's kind of shady.



Overall, I had an awesome time. It nearly totally rocked. I haven't had a DJ experience like that in quite some time.

.....they played BGWIO? Thats fucked...



and btw, at live shows they ARE controlling it. You DID NOT hear the same Chemical Beats every time. Just similar. ;)

Yeah, I know they're controlling it for the most part, but it seems like, as they did with the DJ set they may have some parts that are a little more, shall we say, 'automated' than others. But, yeah, maybe they are controlling that version of Chemical Beats and just playing it the same way each time. I swear that the live versions I've heard are nearly, if not totally, identical.

I hate this and most parts of california because there is that over population of yuppies. Worst of all they're everywhere bastardizing everything, I will say the people in front of me were big fans so at least I know there were others there that knew who the chems where and didn't go inside to blurt out "put on some hip-hop." Maybe next time Tom and Ed come to DJ in town they could do it in a more dilapidated club

Interesting observations, kirk, esp about the, er, ghost mixing. I noticed in Los Angeles that Tom was at the decks more than Ed too. The only other time I've seen them dj, they both pretty much had equal time (but Tom definitely did more tweaking with special squelchy spacey sounds) Despite the glitches and stuff it still sounds like you had a good time which is the most important part. Thanks for writing about your club going night, I think some of the best things about this place is people opening up and sharing about gigs/Chemical experiences.



And Biff, if you think Northern Cali is bad with the yups, try Orange County, California. You'd likely high-tail it, screaming!

whirlygirl Escribi�:

And Biff, if you think Northern Cali is bad with the yups, try Orange County, California. You'd likely high-tail it, screaming!

I am not going to disagree, that's for sure. Anyways, having yups (<- like that slang) can be fun, sort of like burning ants under a magnifying glass when you're young (which I didn't do!!). What I mean is you get them on the freeway driving their BMWs cutting around everyone and when you get it so the yuppie is stuck behind a truck from 1971 going 55 mph in the fast lane, kicking rocks, and there I am in the next lane allowing exactly 1 inch short of the needed space for the BMW to get around. I'm sadistic, what can I say? From the way I see it, it's worse the more south you go. Southern Cal from what I've known is the worst of the worst with Hollywood and the only county with majority republicans, then the more north you go the less worse it is. Northern Cali has a lot of yuppies but not everyone is one (I try to not be one, cept I too am always in a rush and have a new car ) Then Oregon is not bad at all, Washington is great because people mind there shit and Canada from what I've seen is the shit

(Not to hijack this thread or anything ;) ) Don't get me started on the way people drive around where I live! Half the time they aren't paying attention, they are absentmindedly navigating their H2 or their Ford Excursions (that have never seen a speck of dirt or hauled so much as a tricycle) while yapping on cell phones. It's downright dangerous, no regard for people like me scooting around town in my econobox. Thank god I don't have a commute or I'd have to be medicated to treat my road rage. As for the young professionals I really don't have too much a problem with them at all - nothing wrong with being successful and having pride in that - I just don't have too much in common with them off the clock, so needless to say, don't run around in those circles. I gotta say that I live in a place that's very unique considering the surrounding manicured suburban yuppified sprawls, so I feel pretty blessed.

People who drive their vehicles whilst using their mobile are completely irresponsible and selfish. I hate them :x.

I think that wins the "Most Ignorant Post" award, mc marsh!

I talk on the cellphone and drive with one hand while listening to music and still can drive better than some people using both hands and a brain!

that's what they all say. do you think someone in an suv on a phone is actually thinking "I have no real control over this suv because I am a bad driver and I sure as hell shouldn't being doing it while trying to talk."



Arrogance is a big factor in many problems and not limited to the ones in driving. But you for one could be a great driver, I'm not saying you aren't... It's just no one ever thinks of themselves as bad drivers

I admit I'm not the best driver (I am a woman, afterall, hehe) - cautious yes, but I've been prone to having a temper while being on the road, mainly because of the absentmindedness of other drivers who aren't paying attention. And I know I cannot multitask - my hands need to be on the wheel and I need to be facing foward, not craning my neck to support a phone. I tried it... once... and I thought I was gonna hit a car or two or three so I was too scared to try it again. As a rule of safety, people shouldn't multitask when they're trying to operate heavy machinery. I mean, you might as well be drunk because you drive about the same when trying to balance a phone and hold a conversation while driving. I don't care how good a driver someone is, when you're on the phone while behind the wheel, your driving expertise is going to suffer. Hands free sets are available, why don't people invest in them? I used to drive a big honkin minivan so I know large cars do not handle as well as smaller cars. They weigh more, they can't stop as easily. Their size, especially large SUV's, easily obscure smaller cars/people/bicycles/curbs/animals from view. Among other things. The problem isn't so much with large cars though, it's with people not driving them properly because they are too busy talking on the phone. It's not even so much as rude, it's unsafe and puts others at risk.



I'm getting off the soap box now...

What do you people have against cell phones and cars ??? I admit not everyone should talk on the cell phone and drive. Only the more experienced drivers should. I have been driving (legally or illegaly) ever since i was 11. Although i dunno much about cars and i do know much about how to drive a car.! :? :-? (!) Women and old people are usually bad drivers ( Not to point at Whirly at all )...it's a fact. women spend most of the times fixing their makeup, taking care of the music. and other womenly stuff.(sorry for being so ignorant) and old people well i think we can all relate to that.

I am not saying that i am the best driver there is. All i am saying is that i can still drive better that some people, even with a cell phone in my hand and talking about the evotion theory with my girlfriend. (!) }:-@ }:-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

GLAKO-FAHN: I suppose I am ignorant, seen as I do not drive, but I know that when somebody is driving their car whilst using their mobile, they often have one hand on the phone and one hand on the wheel. This means they are not be in full control of their vehicle. They are also not fully concentrating on what they are doing. So if, say, a small child walks out onto the road, there is a much higher chance of the driver hitting it.



The reason it pisses me off is because it puts pedestrians and other road users in danger. I'm pleased that the UK Government are making it illegal to use a mobile (one which you hold in your hand, not a hands-free) whilst driving.



Many people in the UK think the same way as me, but it seems some of you North Americans think differently :?.

Perhaps its that North Americans are better drivers...? I don't ever hear about accidents with people on the phone...

it is something like 1,200 (or slightly more) people get in cell phone related accidents, I don't know how many of those result in death but some do. There has been increasing pressure to make handsfree head sets mandatory, for now I believe they're just strongly suggested

People shouldnt drink and drive.

People shouldnt be under the influence of drugs while driving.

People shouldnt be on CELL PHONES while driving.

Its just as dangerous as the top 2.

No its not.. :?

What the fuck kind of stupid thing is that to say?

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