2025/09/20 Portola, San Francisco DJ Set

[shakermaker]

wow.

[inchemwetrust]

Dj set was mind-bending! Got close enough to cheer them on! 


Just got to my hotel. Will post pics ,vids , and thoughts tomorrow when I leave SF! 

Ryno and Pooter! Did you guys make it home?

[inchemwetrust]

The set was everything I thought it would be! Was happy that I was able to hear Superflash finally, the Chems HBHG remix with green 'freakin' lasers everywhere,The massive EBW at the end with the NG vocals, and the energy the bros were giving on the decks!  For once, this DJ set was a great distraction from what's been going on in California, but the bros helped this brother out!

I lost contact with Ryno ( reception still shit at Portola)!and because of that I wasn't able to meet him prior and cut some rug at Despacio (mmm... despacio!) but...

I got a late text from him saying he was on stage right at the Caribou set. So right when I was about to search for Ryno,  I see this guy with a slight beard, glasses, wearing a Chems shirt with a sport coat over it. Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome Madpooter   (Applause meter) He also brought a friend with him (damn I suck remembering names) but he was cool as fuck as we danced together at the last Portola with the Chems!

I give Poot a hug and then he then escorts me to Ryno ( wearing his new Despacio shirt loud and proud), in which I give him a hug as well. So we're all talking and catching up while nearing the end of Caribou's set. When then went to the main stage to get a few songs out of LCD, and then went straight into the warehouse to see the brothers!

I able to get some shots on the railing to see the bros up close and personal. Minimal recording on my part as I was so fixed to the music!

Tbh , I wish the set was much longer, but any DJ set right now to hold me till the next live gig is good enough to me! Oh and when they played SG, It felt like Christmas to me for some good reason!

Ohh and that red chems shirt at the booth didn't say portola on it!  It still has the New York print on it! 😥

Once again! Thank you T and E for coming out again to flex your deck skills in our state while providing peace thorough your music!

[Csar]

set was a great distraction from what's been going on in California, but the bros helped this brother out!

I feel you! I'm glad you had a well-deserved fun time and enjoyed yourself to the fullest! Were you able to make yourself a shirt like this guy?

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[crosscrops]

Portola was fantastic as always!

A great set from The Chemical Brothers though I wish it was longer. Superflash is such a moment! The crowd was loving it.

Also need to call out the performance from 2manydjs and Erol. WOW! Doesn't get much better than that.

Lastly, Underworld put on a show. I've seen them around 10 times and this was by far the most pounding, aggressive sound I have seen them play. We had such a great time that we ended up going to the afters to see them play b2b with Brutalismus 3000.

Portola is becoming my favorite electronic dance festival in the US. I hope their ticket sales were strong enough to keep the festival going. Til next year!

[shakermaker]

Were you able to make yourself a shirt like this guy?

what does this shirt say?

[Stefan]

"tom and ed" in the Sho font

[Csar]

what does this shirt say?

What Stefan said (could also be the Dustmites font), plus there's something written above the T&E lettering (maybe "welcome"?).
It's from the Knockdown footage @Bosco posted:

Spoiler

[shakermaker]

nice article from SFGate, though nothing new to take away from it that I picked up on.

https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/chemical-brothers-threats-rock-90s-act-california-21067387.php

[sheratone]

Thank you for uploading these videos! Was there at their dj set at Portola vibing hardcore , it was so good it went too fast . Hearing « Superflash » was the highlight !! I was so bummed at the merch booth they only had the red tshirt with the dj set of NYC at the Knockdown center on it. 

Dav

[sheratone]

I just uploaded the only video that i took during their dj set


 Enjoy ! 

[Bosco]

Thank you for uploading these videos! Was there at their dj set at Portola vibing hardcore , it was so good it went too fast . Hearing « Superflash » was the highlight !! I was so bummed at the merch booth they only had the red tshirt with the dj set of NYC at the Knockdown center on it.

Dav

Welcome to the forum, happy you stopped by. 

Do you happen to have a photo? What did the shirts look like? Wonder if website will add a Portola specific date to the merchandise store like they have for other DJ dates.

Jealous you got to hear Superflash!

[rynostar]

I am really behind on a review (work got packed after getting back).

Quick Highlights:

• Superflash! Numero Un! Number One!
• First half more new / obscure, second half more classics like we have been hear
• Yasss!!! Lack Of Love Edit! And after I still claim finding the RAR SoundCloud page years ago where we discovered it!
• All of a Sudden, was not disappointed in finally hearing it live
• Finding @inchemwetrust at Caribou, loosing him in the set, and finding him again as we walked back to the Caltrain

Side note, Despacio was my happy place all weekend. Spent 6 hours there. Still buzzing off closing it out Sunday night. 
Also happy to finally see Prodigy the night after for my first time. Can't believe it only took 28 years.

[Wolkenkrabber]

They played Talking Heads' Once In A Lifetime at the NY show (and at the Chris Hoy "Tour de Four" Glasgow event too, I believe). Sounded like a Chemical re-edit. Did it get an airing at Portola?

[shakermaker]

I'm still on a high from this set. I went in continually reminding myself it's just a DJ set, and walked away not caring about the distinction at all. now. each time a new DJ set is announced now, I get excited that more are happening.

[sheratone]

Davy

[sheratone]

Welcome to the forum, happy you stopped by.

Do you happen to have a photo? What did the shirts look like? Wonder if website will add a Portola specific date to the merchandise store like they have for other DJ dates.

Jealous you got to hear Superflash!

Thank you Bosco ! 

Unfortunately i don't have a picture, i showed up to the second merch booth ( not the one near the gates - entrance, the other one ) and the only one for sale was the red tee with "Knockdown Center New York dj set" written on it, and the sale lady told me it was the only one they had for sale from the beginning. 

I remember because a couple of weeks before the opening of Portola Festival I had seen it on the Chemical Brothers merch official website as "exclusive" -and not yet for sale -I don't remember the plain color of the tee but it had 'Portola Festival dj set September 20th' ( same format as the Knockdown center one ) written on it and thought it would be sold at the festival , and later on it disappearing from their online merchandise website 

Davy

[Bosco]

Thank you Bosco !

Unfortunately i don't have a picture, i showed up to the second merch booth ( not the one near the gates - entrance, the other one ) and the only one for sale was the red tee with "Knockdown Center New York dj set" written on it, and the sale lady told me it was the only one they had for sale from the beginning.

I remember because a couple of weeks before the opening of Portola Festival I had seen it on the Chemical Brothers merch official website as "exclusive" -and not yet for sale -I don't remember the plain color of the tee but it had 'Portola Festival dj set September 20th' ( same format as the Knockdown center one ) written on it and thought it would be sold at the festival , and later on it disappearing from their online merchandise website 

Davy

Bummer, curious if there was a production issue with the Portola version that caused it to ultimately be unavailable. I would maybe try and hold out hope and see if they might eventually get something together by Black Friday of this year. The Chems Merch store seems to offer some deals and updated merch around that time every year. 

[caddy]

I liked this one, the start of 2Many Djs and Erol Alkan set.. Pretty intense and powerful.. I suspect it's a Goat remix, maybe someone know name exactly (and who remixed it). From 3 min 50 sec it starts smashing (it might not be the same track though..).