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Sorry this took so long to post. This, of course, is going to be a big one. When I got back from the trip to LA, school started the next day and I’ve been going since. But at last it is finished! This is going to probably be my biggest post ever, so make some coffee if you plan on reading this.
It’s been about 5 years since my bad luck started with seeing the chems in 2002 in San Francisco when the person I was going with flaked out (after I‘d bought him a ticket too) and I had no ride, (I the proceeded to bug my dad for a ride and he too flaked out when my brother came in to town last minute). So needless to say I was bitter, especially when there was a rave review (no pun intended) for the show in the SF Chronicle titled “Chemical Brothers In Their Element,” which went through the tracks they did and how it was an all around good festival. Next, in 2003 they did a few DJ sets in the US to promote the singles that fall and I knew that show would be bad luck from the start. If you have a freakishly good memory, you’ll remember that after that show I posted a topic of the experience of driving to San Francisco, knowing it was a 21+ show, just because if I didn’t buy a ticket and try to get in then I would’ve been kicking myself the rest the night. Sure, I was still kicking myself when I didn’t get in and having the drive to SF be horrendous, but least I knew I gave it 100%.
So my luck definitely came back after these two shows. On Friday, my friend Marlene and I came up from Santa Cruz and met up a Pooter’s house with his roommate, friend, Bosco, and his cousin… And we all crammed into 1 Honda. Pretty impressive in itself… We got to the show and Ladytron was doing their thing and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. For some reason, I thought there were one of those elevator music bands that you watch in front of their laptops. Afterwards, the people started checking the setup for the chems equipment while a DJ played in the corner. It’s hard to appreciate it when you keep thinking the show is about ready and then another track comes on, but all in all she wasn’t bad. People were cheering when they moved the chems rig up a couple feet, which kinda optimized the sheer excitement of the night. Marlene, being someone who hasn’t been to a whole lot of concerts, was pretty impressive at getting us up close with out having to push, kinda like an elaborate game of frogger.
The SF show was indoors and the Concourse was a really good choice because the set up was a box shape and the wood floors gave it excellent acoustics. In other words, the bass was so extraordinary that this show would once and for all prove or disprove whether subwoofers can make people shit them selves.
Galvanize was really bumping and definitely a good starter for making people go nuts, they had some pretty good echo effects on the PTB part I believe (you can check since it was apparently recorded).
Burst Generator came on next, and I must say that was probably my favorite in the visuals. Well sequenced and suitable for the song. When the distortion for Burst Generator came in at the SF show, it sounded like it was coming down from above, just really phenomenal at this show, which once again was probably a part of the acoustics.
Next was Do It Again, which featured Ed’s banging good work on the Future Retro 777, which appeared to be his weapon of choice through out the show. That machine made these shows seem a bit like the 97 tour with the numerous distorted riffs through out the set. This track holds a lot of fond memories for me cause my co-worker Eddie and I sing it all the time (along with ARR) at work. We work at a coffee shop, so if you’re ever in Santa Cruz are and hear 2 guys back and forth going “du-da-du-du da-da-du- Do it Again!” that’ll probably be us.
Hey Boy Hey Girl came in and was of course and excellent live one. This was Marlene’s favorite track of the night. I’m sure she wasn’t the only one. Right after the song at SF, Tom started playing the MPC and had the snare drums hitting nonstop while dropping the pitch lower and lower until the you felt it beating your heart for you. The time between HBHG and ARR felt a lot longer, haven’t listened to the recording yet, but Pooter was observing that they definitely let the tracks go long.
All Rights Reversed followed HBHG and this song was fucking loud! Both shows actually, but I definitely regretted forgetting to bring ear plugs. Felt like All Hearing Reversed. Seems like they play around a lot with the bass drums on this, which you don’t really notice until you hear it live. On a side note, Pooter plays an excellent version of this song on the piano, but I’ll write about that in my review of Pooter’s crib.
Next was the Kraftwerk cover, Out of Control, and Don’t Fight It Feel it. Once again, I must praise the amazing bass for this song at the venue. This song was surprisingly on of the most bass-induced tracks. Visuals were of course great, I’d guess having 2 story men running at you probably freaked out the heavier drug users. Don’t Fight It Feel is was a massive track, Marlene elbowed me to get pictures of the visuals for this one. Found myself singing along to the vocals and punching in the air as the song built up.
Star Guitar came on next and was stunning. I don’t know what more I can say on top of the billions of great things said about this song, but to be there in front of it was a whole new experience of bliss from a song that already is filled to the brim with it.
Afterwards, Surface to Air came on. They had the fog machines go on which felt great and suited the song/visuals very well. Favorite part of this track has always been near the end when have the sweeping filters and reverberation of the beeping noises (or whatever you call the opening sounds on this track) plus those really heavy buzzing sounds which are hard to describe in text.
Under the Influence/It Doesn’t matter came on next. They opened it with that noise from EBW6, or better known as the Ben_J noises (really think it‘s a Mono/Poly they use to create that). This track had Ed back on the 777 playing some loud and crazy acid lines. Right before the first bass drop, I was telling Marlene “wait for it… wait for it… there it is (bass drops)!”
Saturate - Favorite track of the night! The bass on this was extraordinary! You felt like you were inside a giant subwoofer when the bass line from this track started. Could feel wind from the bass, which was really refreshing at this point.
We Are The Night - Seems like they added some bass drum right before this track begins after believe (on the EBW9 cowbell). This song seems to always be changed a bit regarding what sounds are there. This one felt stripped compared to the LA show, but brought people mad.
Block Rockin Beats>Leave Home - Oh yeah, there was the Cat and it was singing. People were moshing during these songs, think it captivates the energy
Das Spiegel - Visuals were great for this tune, had some nice melodica work by Tom. Really warm and fuzzy tune and great live one. Only played it at the SF show though, probably that dinger Paul Van Dyke and the need to give him time caused this to be omitted from the LA show.
Sunshine Underground - One of my favorite tracks ever, so you can probably guess my opinion on this song. Actually would’ve rather seen this live than TPPR, if anyone could believe that. Had Ed rocking the Roland Jupiter for the break down of the song, followed by the Kitten finally which was amazing, really tells you what a broken synth is capable of. The SF show had the percussion hit in, rather than fade, which was an excellent touch.
For the LA show, Pooter, Bosco, and I drove down from SF (a good 6 hours). Pretty smooth drive, real long though as there is nothing between SF and LA. But there was an In-N-Out Burger, so good enough. When we got there we hung out with Whirly and Stash, who were staying at the uber post Standard. We went to the show and saw some interesting folk. Felt kinda out of place, being dressed in comfortable, laundry day clothing and everyone else looking over the top raverish. Carl Cox was playing a set, didn’t take much notice to it, but it looked entertaining none the less. Anyway, we all snuck up towards the center after Cox’s set ended and got a pretty good spot. Seemed like the chems set got started quicker than at the SF show after the act before.
This chems show seemed more adventurous than the SF show regarding improvised. Almost like the knew a bunch of forumites were taking note. Rather than doing a song by song review, I’ll go over a few. The sounds was a little more clear as it was outside, but the bass wasn’t as over t he top as SF. First, Burst Generator have some really good stuff going on. Ed was playing a synth (elecktron monomachine?) and it was making some great winding noises through out the song, wish I had a recording or it. Hey Boy Hey Girl had the changed ending but Top was doing something slightly different on the snare than the SF show. Star Guitar was changed a bit as well, I can’t put my finger on it but I’m sure you tube will refresh that. We Are The Night was changed a bit from the SF and sounded more to the studio version with the layers of sound. Chemical Beats brought down the house, both shows ended with Tom playing some crazy shit on the Juno, nice one! The did an encore of Leave Home>BRB, very energetic. The end of the show had Tom doing the kitten stuff, which was even crazier than before.
Anyway, after the show Errol got us back stage and we were able to meet Tom and Ed, which still to this day is insane to believe. They were great people as you’d expect and very easy to talk to. Cant remember everything I said, but I remember telling them my bad luck with show, this one being great, and the Kitten being amazing to hear in real life. Bosco and I went to IHOP later that night and were consistently asking “Did we really just meet Tom and Ed?” Needless to say, this was a memorable trip and well worth it. Plus, I got a newer chems shirt since my Surrender one was a bit old. It was really great to meet and hang out with Bosco and Pooter and embark on that memorable trip with them. Stash and Whirly are always a pleasure to see and have some agwa with. And Tom and Ed thank a million for being the coolest people on earth and managing to make time to visit America!
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