The ChemBase

U.K. tour just announced. Looks like Leeds, Birmingham and probably The O2 for me.

O2 will be the day before my birthday ! That's tempting but I'll probably hold for a date in Paris, as I'm sure they will announce a tour in Europe after the UK.

Leeds is a week after my 50th, and as I live only an hour away from the venue, I'm claiming it as a present from Tom and Ed ;D . I think you're right about more European dates as they did that before or after the last run of indoor UK dates didn't they.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssss

Certainly gonna go to multiple shows like I did in 2019

Fingers crossed for continental europe shows



You listen Mr Simons and Mr Rowlands? Palladium Cologne or Mitsubishi Electric Hall Dusseldorf. And don't you dare coming round without Frank The Boss and Studio Cat.

Looks good! prices are up on seetickets - £63.55 including fees for o2 standing, other venues likely a few pound cheaper

Quote from: gfa2001 on Mar 27, 2023, 11:24

Looks good! prices are up on seetickets - £63.55 including fees for o2 standing, other venues likely a few pound cheaper

I paid less than that last summer at Field Day for Chems + Kraftwerk + Daniel Avery + Squarepusher + Floating Points + Erol Alkan + HAAi.
Just sayin'.

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Mar 27, 2023, 12:09

I paid less than that last summer at Field Day for Chems + Kraftwerk + Daniel Avery + Squarepusher + Floating Points + Erol Alkan + HAAi.
Just sayin'.

same when i got a ticket for it the day before off twitter - but thats a festival. Final tier Field Day tickets went for over £100 too

Its a very similar price to the Cardiff Bay show and hardly unreasonable

Don't think it's that expensive for the kind of show it is tbh. Festival tickets are always cheaper if you are going by act per ticket cost... but you don't get always as long sets, sound can really be off, production can be scaled back, and crowd could be indifferent. Direct gigs you know should be the top of their game. 

Was wondering when a UK tour would be announced. Was hoping it would be a few weeks earlier as I am in London for a Wedding in the middle of October.

Yessssahhhh  ,  dum . . der der dum . . der der . .  dum dum dum . . Wooohh  !!!!! 

Gigs galore   :)

I'm hoping the European tour happens after the U.K. and Ireland shows, at the moment the Dublin show will be my 50th, same venue (although remodelled) that I saw them in '97 at my first show! 

presale signup link - https://uk-umg.com/um-forms/39199-964152.html

Its onsale 30 mins early for o2 priority / virgin media customers as well through their rewards app

Got my presale-Code, even though I'm not a UK resident and stated so in the sign-up form :)
I have a work thing tomorrow and won't be able to buy the tickets until evening, so please leave me one ticket for Glasgow and one for London ;D

to the o2 I go!

Yes! I also bougth a ticket for the London O2  :)

It appers that there wasn't a way to buy tickes for multiple shows, so I'll try again for the Glasgow show on Friday when the general sale begins. My plan is to go to the show in Glasgow, then travel a bit around Scotland before heading south for the show in London.

Quote from: Stefan on Mar 29, 2023, 16:14

Yes! I also bougth a ticket for the London O2  :)

It appers that there wasn't a way to buy tickes for multiple shows, so I'll try again for the Glasgow show on Friday when the general sale begins. My plan is to go to the show in Glasgow, then travel a bit around Scotland before heading south for the show in London.

Just use the same presale code again?

I haven't tried this, I thought the email made it very clear that one code could only be used once?

Edit: Ha, it worked, thanks a lot, it would've never crossed my mind.
Hold Tight Glasgow! ;D

I also already cleared my vacation time, now off to plan my Chemtrip 2023!

Also, very glad to see that both events have some form of digital ticket. If traveling internationally to the shows this is very reassuring, because in the case of physical tickets there's a small chance that they might not arrive early enogh at home before I'm on my way to the UK. Fortunately, this wasn't a problem in 2018 and 2019, but a digital ticket can be accessed anywhere.

Quote from: Stefan on Mar 30, 2023, 17:33

I haven't tried this, I thought the email made it very clear that one code could only be used once?

Edit: Ha, it worked, thanks a lot, it would've never crossed my mind.
Hold Tight Glasgow! ;D

I also already cleared my vacation time, now off to plan my Chemtrip 2023!

Also, very glad to see that both events have some form of digital ticket. If traveling internationally to the shows this is very reassuring, because in the case of physical tickets there's a small chance that they might not arrive early enogh at home before I'm on my way to the UK. Fortunately, this wasn't a problem in 2018 and 2019, but a digital ticket can be accessed anywhere.

Yeah it says that but i think its per show anyway, if even enforced at all. I wouldn't worry - its not like the tickets sold out instantly either

Digital tickets are common here, only heard of one show with physical tickets post covid in the uk i think. Only place that i know that still does physical is glastonbury

Quote from: Stefan on Mar 30, 2023, 17:33

I haven't tried this, I thought the email made it very clear that one code could only be used once?

Edit: Ha, it worked, thanks a lot, it would've never crossed my mind.
Hold Tight Glasgow! ;D

I also already cleared my vacation time, now off to plan my Chemtrip 2023!

Also, very glad to see that both events have some form of digital ticket. If traveling internationally to the shows this is very reassuring, because in the case of physical tickets there's a small chance that they might not arrive early enogh at home before I'm on my way to the UK. Fortunately, this wasn't a problem in 2018 and 2019, but a digital ticket can be accessed anywhere.

one thing to note, which I discovered when I went to Howard Castle last year, is that the apps to access the tickets are sometimes country specific. on my US phone I couldn't access my Howard Castle ticket in the ticketmaster app. the play store also would not let me try to install the ticketmaster app while in the UK. I had to log in to the ticketmaster website on a browser on my phone, and that worked.

Thanks for the heads-up, it states so in the emails, for Glasgow the ticket will be accessible through the ticketmaster account or app, and for London apparently the O2 has its own app. I'll try it out in advance, not that I need to fumble or install something right when I'm about to enter the venue.
I gotta say digitally is more convenient, but why can't they just send you a pdf which you can print out at home or simply show the barcode on your phone which will be scanned at entry. I hate it when something requires its own app which coud easily be down without.

Bit odd some of the comments about prices. My standing tkt for Leeds was sub £60 and sub £70 for The O2 (Ticketmaster and AXS had a fair chunk of that as well) Considering what some artists charge, I thought that was great value. Also noticed that on the album/artist presale, seats at Leeds Arena in the front level 100 blocks (103, 104) were only £38!!! Anyone who has been to Leeds Arena would know that that would give you an unbelievable head on view of the live show. It was the first time I've ever thought about a seated ticket for a Chems gig.

Tucked inside my 2CD BITE, I've just stumbled on my 2016 ticket stub for the Chems at Hammersmith Apollo London. Standing ticket: £39.50 + fee £1.25.
Venue capacity: approx 5000.

Personally I would prefer to see The Chems (or any artist) at this relatively 'intimate' size venue (a quarter that of the O2) and pay a smaller price. Just because other artists now charge crazy prices for arena gigs doesn't mean that £63.55 is a good price to see the Chems (or anyone). It just means that it may not be as bad as [insert artist name here].

You could argue that there's been inflation since 2016, but I would argue that in real terms I am poorer than I was in 2016. If I can go for less than £63.55 courtesy of a late Twickets deal, great. Otherwise I may sit this one out.

If people disagree with me and are happy to pay 63.55 for the cavernous O2, fair enough; enjoy. But I hope they can also respect my financal decision (and my dislike for cavernous venues) as the UK suffers an acute cost of living crisis. (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/08/uk-households-to-suffer-4k-blow-to-finances-this-year-says-report)

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Mar 31, 2023, 22:11

Tucked inside my 2CD BITE, I've just stumbled on my 2016 ticket stub for the Chems at Hammersmith Apollo London. Standing ticket: £39.50 + fee £1.25.
Venue capacity: approx 5000.

Personally I would prefer to see The Chems (or any artist) at this relatively 'intimate' size venue (a quarter that of the O2) and pay a smaller price. Just because other artists now charge crazy prices for arena gigs doesn't mean that £63.55 is a good price to see the Chems (or anyone). It just means that it may not be as bad as [insert artist name here].

You could argue that there's been inflation since 2016, but I would argue that in real terms I am poorer than I was in 2016. If I can go for less than £63.55 courtesy of a late Twickets deal, great. Otherwise I may sit this one out.

If people disagree with me and are happy to pay 63.55 for the cavernous O2, fair enough; enjoy. But I hope they can also respect my financal decision (and my dislike for cavernous venues) as the UK suffers an acute cost of living crisis. (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/08/uk-households-to-suffer-4k-blow-to-finances-this-year-says-report)

Voting with your wallet is the best way for things like this to change, but based off the ticketmaster seating map in this case (sold well in London) its not going to be making a difference unfortunately.

If they did the apollo again it would 100% be at a similar price as this o2 gig as well, Orbital are doing it today and its £50 and they are far smaller for instance. Theres quantities of scale with the o2 anyway, if anything they can charge a lower price than the Apollo.

Can completely respect the financial decision, its shit but FOMO is real and i'm not missing out.

concert prices have definitely increased since the pandemic. I suspect that, as well as inflation, part of it is the industry really suffered and needs to make it up a bit.

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Mar 31, 2023, 22:11

Personally I would prefer to see The Chems (or any artist) at this relatively 'intimate' size venue (a quarter that of the O2) and pay a smaller price.

that's not how it would work though. once an artist can play the O2, more intimate gigs would be even more expensive than the O2 gig. the price is set based on demand for tickets. the days of the chems playing smaller venues at a lower price are gone.

Quote from: Stefan on Mar 31, 2023, 17:21

why can't they just send you a pdf which you can print out at home or simply show the barcode on your phone which will be scanned at entry. I hate it when something requires its own app which coud easily be down without.

a printable pdf certainly is convenient. it's also extremely convenient for scammers who might sell the same ticket multiple times. 

I also hate the need for an app (I generally detest having to install single-purpose apps) but it does enable dynamic bar codes which cannot be duplicated. I'll deal with the inconvenience of an app to stick it to the scammers. 

Yeah the app is good as you know 100% your not getting scammed because the ticket is in your account. I went and saw the Blaze at hammersmith apollo last week and was bricking it all evening as I had PDF tickets I bought through ticketswap and had no idea if they would work.

Quote from: shakermaker on Apr 02, 2023, 19:01

the price is set based on demand for tickets. the days of the chems playing smaller venues at a lower price are gone.

Yes good old suppply and demand; this is indeed true. But I'm old enough to remember when the demand levels meant I could pay thirty-something pounds to see them, and go to the gig in a venue the size of Hammersmith Apollo or Brixton Academy. When they played the O2 last time, I wondered (hoped) if they had overstretched themselves and would come back down to earth after that one. Alas no. And ironically the higher the demand from others to see the Chems (some of whom I suspect are Johnnie-come-latelys dazzled by instagram clips), the more my demand to see them decreases.

I'll catch them again at some point between now and when they retire, but in the meantime there are plenty of other "smaller" acts to see live. I won't be dazzled or FOMO'd into paying over £50 a ticket to see anyone.

very fair! it's good to have such boundaries.

being a chems fan in the USA sucks with regards to how infrequently they play here, but when they do we are blessed with smaller size shows.

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Apr 02, 2023, 19:46

Yes good old suppply and demand; this is indeed true. But I'm old enough to remember when the demand levels meant I could pay thirty-something pounds to see them, and go to the gig in a venue the size of Hammersmith Apollo or Brixton Academy. When they played the O2 last time, I wondered (hoped) if they had overstretched themselves and would come back down to earth after that one. Alas no. And ironically the higher the demand from others to see the Chems (some of whom I suspect are Johnnie-come-latelys dazzled by instagram clips), the more my demand to see them decreases.

I'll catch them again at some point between now and when they retire, but in the meantime there are plenty of other "smaller" acts to see live. I won't be dazzled or FOMO'd into paying over £50 a ticket to see anyone.

Considering they've been a festival headliner in the UK for years its surprising they weren't doing the o2 to begin with honestly. They headline several 20-50k festivals every year

@Wolkenkrabber was thinking about this just now

What i will say is that the support is poor. US shows got Overmono and we get James Holroyd. No offence to him but he's not a big name - the cardiff show has hot chip, 2manydjs etc while these arena shows that are more expensive get none.

That cardiff show is very good value in comparison at £55.

Quote from: gfa2001 on Apr 16, 2023, 19:47

@Wolkenkrabber was thinking about this just now

What i will say is that the support is poor. US shows got Overmono and we get James Holroyd. No offence to him but he's not a big name - the cardiff show has hot chip, 2manydjs etc while these arena shows that are more expensive get none.

That cardiff show is very good value in comparison at £55.

James has been opening for them for decades. He's a fantastic dj and always does a great set. Even when someone like 2manydjs support like in 2019 he always plays right before the Chems. 

I always love his sets before the shows 

Quote from: chemdup on Apr 16, 2023, 22:55

James has been opening for them for decades. He's a fantastic dj and always does a great set. Even when someone like 2manydjs support like in 2019 he always plays right before the Chems.

I always love his sets before the shows

Fair enough I'm sure he's great, can obviously tell theres a connection to chems but the point was more that when people are paying £65 a piece there should be a proper support really.

Hopefully someone else will get added on as an additional support. Its a kick in the teeth when the £10 cheaper cardiff show gets a full undercard of good support acts and we get nothing

TSHA added to London

Have DMed on instagram asking if live or dj - anyone know, can't see it anywhere

^ its a dj set

Quote from: gfa2001 on Jul 25, 2023, 17:23

^ its a dj set

I think that's a good thing. Her album was nice, but her DJ sets are brilliant.

10 days to go!

I can't wait for the London show!

London times

What an excellent spectacle! It just makes their music so very much real! I've missed this!

Since I'm sure you're interested in the set list:

Main set:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Basically the same (I think?), except for

Spoiler

Spoiler

Goodbye, which is way longer and includes the Jesse Jackson sample. Also, a complete dark screen during the part with the sample.

Encore:

Spoiler

Spoiler

No Geography
The Darkness that you fear (Beefed up version) (I think, there aren't that many clips from 2021)
The Reel

Quote from: Stefan on Oct 26, 2023, 22:16

What an excellent spectacle! It just makes their music so very much real! I've missed this!

Since I'm sure you're interested in the set list:

Main set:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Basically the same (I think?), except for

Spoiler

Spoiler

Goodbye, which is way longer and includes the Jesse Jackson sample. Also, a complete dark screen during the part with the sample.

Encore:

Spoiler

Spoiler

No Geography
The Darkness that you fear (Beefed up version) (I think, there aren't that many clips from 2021)
The Reel

I keep seeing people here doing double spoiler tags, and in your case a quadruple, I think.
I'm confused by this!
Anyway, thanks for the updates. The news about

Spoiler

Goodbye, which is way longer and includes the Jesse Jackson sample

and

Spoiler

The Darkness that you fear (Beefed up version)

is interesting.

I was watching the live clip of Superflash earlier today on the book thread and found myself wishing I was immersed in that intense live Chems setting where you feel the music going through you.
Glad you enjoyed it.

I also don't know about the nested spoilers, I typed on mobile while walking back to my hotel so I might've done something wrong

Live Spoilers

Spoiler

INCREDIBLY glad they added the Jesse Jackson vocals in! They make the song so much better in my opinion, it just fits so well. It was way too short as it was, with only one drop, and this adds some length, which is very much needed.

As for the encore, No Geography and Darkness getting more time to shine makes sense, as they both had only a year (or just 3 shows), but I am not a big fan of either particularly. It makes sense considering the more happy/uplifting feeling they seem to have been going for (as evidenced by the removal of some of the darker songs like Hoops, Under The Influence, Out Of Control), but I would have preferred that be done with other songs like Radiate, The Sunshine Underground, or Das Spiegel.

Trying not to spoil anything for myself while still keeping an eye on here - so thanks for the spoiler tags, its appreciated :) 

Can't wait for next Saturday!!

Spoiler

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Oct 26, 2023, 22:54

Goodbye, which is way longer and includes the Jesse Jackson sample

I bet they used it in their live set because you asked them in that Guardian Q&A!

Quote from: Csar on Oct 27, 2023, 10:03

I bet they used it in their live set because you asked them in that Guardian Q&A!

Spoiler

Spoiler

I was thinking that! I thought maybe it was a little too close to have been added, but it's likely a possibility. Maybe they also saw our disappointment at it's removal. 

Quote from: Csar on Oct 27, 2023, 10:03

I bet they used it in their live set because you asked them in that Guardian Q&A!

Ha! I'm sure they made their own decisions based on their own experiences of that track in DJ sets and live sets.

Incidentally I went and got a hard copy of the Guardian that day and neither of my questions/answers made it into the printed version of the paper.
I guess newspapers really do prefer the "tell us the story about..." kinda questions rather than direct discussion of the music. I mean, why would the music be the most important thing?..

Speaking of the Guardian (and the music), they reviewed the Glasgow gig here (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/27/the-chemical-brothers-review-ovo-hydro-glasgow), where the reviewer describes Goodbye as "acid gospel". Perhaps he didn't get the full memo.

Set list

Spoiler

Come with us intro 
Go
Do it again 
Get yourself high vocal
Mah
No reason
Hbhg
Eve of destruction 
Dreaming 
Swoon
Temptation/ star guitar 
Live again
Acid test vocal 
Keep on 
Wide open 
Escape velocity 
Get up
Dig your own hole 
Free yourself vocal
Saturate 
Goodby w/ Jesse Jackson intro 
Setting sun
Chemical beats
Song to the siren/chemical/music response 
Galvanize 

——————————————————

No geography 
Darkness that you fear 
Private psychedelic reel 

Love is all

Acid Gospel is also a good nickname, I suppose.
Can 100% confirm that the CPR part ;D

Quote from: Stefan on Oct 26, 2023, 22:16

Spoiler

The Darkness that you fear (Beefed up version) (I think, there aren't that many clips from 2021)

As some of you have doubtless seen, Graeme on the BROTHERHOOD FB page posted some clips from Leeds including a 3:51 clip of the above track.
And yeah it does sound like a dubby, clubby version with a groovy synth bass line underpinning it. And I think I like it.

EDIT oh wait, there's also this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko9grHTVXpI

It's been a while, here are some pictures from Glasgow. Maybe I'll also write a review, but probably only after my second gig in London :)

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You captured some great moments there, @Stefan !

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Oct 30, 2023, 19:27

As some of you have doubtless seen, Graeme on the BROTHERHOOD FB page posted some clips from Leeds including a 3:51 clip of the above track. And yeah it does sound like a dubby, clubby version with a groovy synth bass line underpinning it. And I think I like it.

Agree! That's why I love their later-in-touring-standalone-shows. They almost always have got some surprises up their sleeves by then.

@Stefan all of them are great pics, especially landing some shots where the visuals stood still for a second for you to capture, but that one for Goodbye is perfect!

Ha, look at Tom  ;D
Tom.png

Quote from: inchemwetrust on Oct 31, 2023, 07:11

@Stefan all of them are great pics, especially landing some shots where the visuals stood still for a second for you to capture, but that one for Goodbye is perfect!

I really like that one, too.
Yeah, it's always a bit of hit-and-miss with some of the visuals flashing in and out quickly.

Quote from: Csar on Oct 31, 2023, 10:08

Ha, look at Tom  ;D
Tom.png

It's always great fun being up front and seeing the Brothers move to their music :)

Last night was possibly the best performance from the Chems in all my times seeing them. Absolutely phenomenal gig. Nearly didnt end up going as I have a 2 month old baby at home and my wife had already booked a night out with her friends but luckily I was able to get a babysitter sorted. Got in earlier than expected, caught the last half hour of James Holroyd which was, as always a lovely warmer upper, playing a great mix of nu-disco and housey stuff. Finished up the set with the beautiful Strings of Eden by Alex Kassian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZy0Ns4qGgk

Anyway thankfully there wasnt much of a break between the end of that song and the intro to the Chems. The usual, big face with the Come With Us vocals going into a dubby version of Go. I'll be referencing the Cork gig in June as that is the last time I saw them, this was a much better version of Go than the Cork show, the vocals seemed tighter.
They went through their repertoire and the best thing about it was the little changes they made to their big songs. To be honest I've kind of overdosed on No Reason so that was going to be my cue to go for a drink but they kept it interesting, even the acid line was a few octaves higher in the breakdown. They also seemed to get it sounding better than the Cork show, the kick was overpowering the rest of the track but it was reigned in a bit (only a bit mind you) Similarly with HBHG there were added things over the top.
Highlight of the night for me for once wasnt George and Mildred (they were amazing as always) but Escape Velocity absolutely blew me away. So so so intense  :Cray
I really hope they release the version of Wide Open they've been playing, its great.


Got some good pics I'll try and upload at some stage and the odd video, learned my lesson from the Cork show, when you start a video in portrait mode, it doesnt matter if you turn to landscape 1 second in, it stays in portrait mode, and there is no easy way to switch it. Havent looked back on the videos but hopefully they turned out ok.

Oh also one last note about the sound, I have never heard the Point so loud, did they bring their own speakers or did the sound engineer just nail it last night?

Looking forward to hearing other people's thoughts who were there

Thank you @gavin35 for getting back about the show! How cool you got a sitter sorted so you could go have Escape Velocity melt your brain  ;D I am curious to read others' thoughts as well. What I'm seeing on socials looks like an epic time! 

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(https://i.postimg.cc/8cmQ04Th/IMG-20231101-224952.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KjB6pMQ)

(https://i.postimg.cc/nV4JrFqC/IMG-20231101-224957.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1g80R6r)

(https://i.postimg.cc/vZqMy0fh/IMG-20231101-225003.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VJC2BB70)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cHYNQZjk/IMG-20231101-225009.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MMW4wkz1)

(https://i.postimg.cc/P5RG9PnF/IMG-20231101-225748.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJL0Z4Xz)

(https://i.postimg.cc/DZ1tS6Jt/IMG-20231101-225753.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBKfgrLc)

(https://i.postimg.cc/6qwFnZCT/IMG-20231101-225757.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r0nhLKnL)

Great pics!

And so many of them! So happy for you that you had a blast there! And again, reading your review, it once more confirms my believe that their later + standalone shows are the most interesting ones, so much richer and refined and playful.

Evening all, new here, so hello!

Got tickets for the O2 tomorrow. Will be my 4th live, though they never cease to amaze. Images above/videos online look absolutely insane! 

Welcome @MontyMonts! Great that you've found this little Chems corner.
Hope you all are going to have splendid time tomorrow!

Quote from: Csar on Nov 03, 2023, 17:40

Welcome @MontyMonts! Great that you've found this little Chems corner.
Hope you all are going to have splendid time tomorrow!

Thanks, @Csar! 

Unfortunately my mate can no longer come along since he's taken a big wallop with the Covid stick, but I'll be there! 

Atmospheric pre show shot from Birmingham - my first non-festival Chems gig 

IMG_1184.jpeg

Anyone know what time Tom and Ed have been coming on? Around 9:00ish?? 

Quote from: MontyMonts on Nov 03, 2023, 19:28

Anyone know what time Tom and Ed have been coming on? Around 9:00ish??

Yup

Quote from: MartinMartin on Nov 03, 2023, 20:15

Yup

Nice one, cheers dude! 

Spoiler

Spoiler

No Geography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlnq7NiuzYs

It's actually kinda baffling me how, since 2021, we still don't have a single clip of TDTYF live in it's entirety.

Besides the help from Wolkenkraber, I did find this too
https://youtu.be/bETkl9zxN_4

Quote from: Conn6orsuper117 on Nov 03, 2023, 22:09

It's actually kinda baffling me how, since 2021, we still don't have a single clip of TDTYF live in it's entirety.

Jump back a page on this thread to my post #114. Full 2 hour Glasgow show embedded. See 1hr47 to 1hr52 for TDTYF.

Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Nov 03, 2023, 22:39

Jump back a page on this thread to my post #114. Full 2 hour Glasgow show embedded. See 1hr47 to 1hr52 for TDTYF.

I guess I retract that statement :o

(Work's been pulling me out of the loop, too much, I gotta binge-read topics on this website again.)

Behold , . . they're coming back , or rather , behold , . . they've been back , past tense now , as i saw them last night in Birmingham ,  fantastic as always , first time seeing them since 2018 so it was great to hear the new material ,  totally forgot about the re-work of Setting Sun , loved that in the setlist ,  as well as DYOH ,  then the robots made an un-expected appearance to mass effect during ' that song ' and it all went off gloriously ,  Temptation / Star Guitar is such a trip visually now and soooo good with the re-worked synth patterns ,  i would've liked more Wide Open , and less Goodbye , but hey , it's all fine really ,  randomly i managed to catch a piece of confetti during Got to Keep on , and i punched a balloon during Saturate ,  i reached out to ChemdUp a few days before the show for possible meet up but i was rushed for time ,  travelling straight from work , caught train , checked in hotel , made my way to venue etc etc , so everything was moving quite fast ,  met some kindred spirits in the standing/mosh area however , and chatted to some cool people ,  what a blast and top night. Next up ,  The Prodigy , finishing the year off with a loud ruckus.

Ok so my feet are killing me right now because I danced through basically the whole show, after ten days of vacation with lots of hiking/sightseeing walking. So worth it!

Wow! London last night was incredible!!

Glad to hear a good chunk of 'Goodbye', seeing as it's my favourite track on FTBF. More of a delicate track on the album, but the bass last night almost blew my legs off 😂

I was a bit disappointed by the event at the O2 in London last night tbh. The show itself was amazing, so big ups to Tom, Ed, Smith & Lyall, George & Mildred, and everyone involved in pulling it off. So many epic tunes and the visuals of course were stunning. As someone previously mentioned, hearing Goodbye live was such a goosebumps moment, it was incredible. 

However, the venue itself was waaaaay oversold and much too crowded to be able to properly enjoy it. It was such a contrast to the last time they played the O2 (possibly the best gig of theirs I've even been to) when there was enough room to have a dance and not feel packed in like sardines. Maybe they could've played two nights and spread the crowd out a bit. But I guess that's the state of post-Covid gig economics nowadays  ::shake  I hope in future they scale back the crowds a bit.

But anyway, no complaints about the show itself, Tom & Ed were at the peak of their powers and absolutely smashed it  :luv

Hm, I was up front at the center (a couple meters meters behind the barriers) and I had space to dance. I guess it always takes a bit of luck with the people surrounding you.

^totally. The best thing that can happen is if people you're with or surrounded by are enjoying themselves as much as you do and making it enjoyable for everyone else by being considerate and polite, esp. in a crowded situation.

By the way, thanks for the reviews! I'm quite jealous I've gotta say! It does look pretty full, which also makes me happy that their shows are still selling well!

Here's an EV, DYOH and Saturate inflatable ball madness from first row's perspective.

https://youtu.be/mbr9NC4XtqU

The segue to Setting Sun doesn't quite fit though.

And this one's including Goodbye with the Reverent! Love the short part towards the end before Jesse's vocal come back for a brief moment. Could -  no, should have been a bit longer to give it more of Chemical live twist!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rHlfOX5hXc

The Reel
https://youtu.be/0fUKXeCd6AU

The Darkness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2xnHyzvBPA&pp=ygURY2hlbWljYWwgYnJvdGhlcnM%3D
It unfortunately cuts in after the transition which is so so good.

20 min Star Guitar/ Wide Open/ Chemical Beats-MusicResponse/BRB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtNrYgbldik

Encore from Birmingham !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETkl9zxN_4
This one includes the lovely transition from NG to TDTYF!

Quote from: Csar on Nov 05, 2023, 20:34

And this one's including Goodbye with the Reverent! Love the short part towards the end before Jesse's vocal come back for a brief moment. Could -  no, should have been a bit longer to give it more of Chemical live twist!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rHlfOX5hXc

Right at the beginning, bottom right in front of the guy with glasses on his head taking pictures, you see some hands in the air, I think this is (probably) me.

I was wrong here, because I can see this guy with the glasses in my pictures, so I was a little bit further behind.

Even if I had a billion words they still would not be enough to explain what I felt and still am feeling after their show in London. This was my first time seeing them live, I got to the very front with two friends I made on the forum and the discord and it felt as if I knew them forever. The crowd was so vastly different from every other concert I've been to, no one is pushing onto you, everyone is so respectful and there to enjoy the moment. The show itself was phenomenal, unlike anything I've ever seen before. I've seen ChemBros videos, movies, Coachella all online, but this was something else. I felt high while sober as a judge, and at a certain point I felt I lost all control of my body. I was aware my dancing was weird, I probably looked like I was having a stoke, but that was what felt right and what the music made me do. I believe Ed waved at me and pointed at my friend, it feels so surreal seeing someone you looked up to for so long for the very first time, I was thinking, my God, they're real and they're up there and I see them and they see me and my friends and everyone else and we're all in here seeing each other and feeling the love. My feet were numb from various sightseeing and city exploration I've done on the day before and just hours before the concert, but I still had it in me to dance and give it my all.

I don't want to sound pretentious, but I believe this show was a pivotal event in my life. I just got back to Berlin, and I'm already yearning for more. I'm yearning for my community, the friends I made along the way, the sense of belonging. I'm aware that I am not very aware of the full scope of it quite yet, but something just clicked that night. Without a doubt the best day of my life this far.

I love being a Chemical Sibling  :partyG

Haha, first gigs are always so special, I still remember mine fondly from 12 years ago :)
No amount of watching live recordings can prepare you for actually experiencing it live!
I hope there will be may more gigs to come for all of us!

Quote from: Stefan on Nov 05, 2023, 18:10

Hm, I was up front at the center (a couple meters meters behind the barriers) and I had space to dance. I guess it always takes a bit of luck with the people surrounding you.

I'm glad you had a bit of room to dance. We were more or less centre-right, just at the back of the zone I like to call 'the confetti ball zone' (ie. the area in the crowd where you can touch the confetti during GKO and the balls during Saturate). So we weren't as close to the stage as you were. But it was RAMMED. Definitely no room to dance except to shuffle from side to side, and it was like that from there all the way to the back.

Maybe we should've tried to get further forward, but thanks to our group underestimating the length of the queues to get in, we got in much later than we would have liked so getting a decent spot was very difficult.

Anyway I'm glad to see that others had a great time. Sadly I didn't, but I'm not super fussed because I've had plenty of amazing times at Chems gigs in the past (too many to count) :) 

@hubie: Interesting, I'd always thought that croud density is worst up front because people keep pushing towards the stage. But in most Chems gigs in the past years, there was always a bit of space to dance around. Only realy exeption I remember is Zürich Open Air 2016, where the crowd started poging throughout Swoon and did a mosh pit during Star Guitar.

Quote from: instantreigen on Nov 06, 2023, 09:52

Even if I had a billion words they still would not be enough to explain what I felt and still am feeling after their show in London. This was my first time seeing them live, I got to the very front with two friends I made on the forum and the discord and it felt as if I knew them forever. The crowd was so vastly different from every other concert I've been to, no one is pushing onto you, everyone is so respectful and there to enjoy the moment. The show itself was phenomenal, unlike anything I've ever seen before. I've seen ChemBros videos, movies, Coachella all online, but this was something else. I felt high while sober as a judge, and at a certain point I felt I lost all control of my body. I was aware my dancing was weird, I probably looked like I was having a stoke, but that was what felt right and what the music made me do. I believe Ed waved at me and pointed at my friend, it feels so surreal seeing someone you looked up to for so long for the very first time, I was thinking, my God, they're real and they're up there and I see them and they see me and my friends and everyone else and we're all in here seeing each other and feeling the love. My feet were numb from various sightseeing and city exploration I've done on the day before and just hours before the concert, but I still had it in me to dance and give it my all.

I don't want to sound pretentious, but I believe this show was a pivotal event in my life. I just got back to Berlin, and I'm already yearning for more. I'm yearning for my community, the friends I made along the way, the sense of belonging. I'm aware that I am not very aware of the full scope of it quite yet, but something just clicked that night. Without a doubt the best day of my life this far.

I love being a Chemical Sibling  :partyG

Oh my, oh my goodness WELCOME TO THE OTHER SIDE :D  ;D  What a show to have experienced seeing the Chems for the first time! I echo @Stefan, the first time is so special and I love reading about how you connected with everything and everyone around you. It's pure magic when it all clicks into place and it's a high you'll be chasing for years to come. Until the next one. ❤️ You'll be basking in the afterglow for days, hehe! There's no other party like the Chemical Brothers. Thank you for sharing this with us.  :)

And I'm just loving reading all the reviews and thoughts, and for gathering up videos too. Stuff like this is so cool to read!

Quote from: Stefan on Nov 06, 2023, 19:33

@hubie: Interesting, I'd always thought that croud density is worst up front because people keep pushing towards the stage. But in most Chems gigs in the past years, there was always a bit of space to dance around. Only realy exeption I remember is Zürich Open Air 2016, where the crowd started poging throughout Swoon and did a mosh pit during Star Guitar.

At a lot of shows especially with a generally older crowd you get signifcant 'crowd crust'

We were on the right (facing stage) around 20-30m back from the stage and had a lot of room (also arrived later than i'd have wanted), good crowd round us too - no talkers!!

Quote from: Stefan on Nov 06, 2023, 19:33

@hubie: Interesting, I'd always thought that croud density is worst up front because people keep pushing towards the stage. But in most Chems gigs in the past years, there was always a bit of space to dance around. Only realy exeption I remember is Zürich Open Air 2016, where the crowd started poging throughout Swoon and did a mosh pit during Star Guitar.

Yeah it seems counter-intuitive doesn't it. Oh and a mosh pit during Star Guitar is SO Chemical Brothers, I love it  :))

Couple of shots from London on Saturday...

I should also share my pics here sometime soon - need to get them on my laptop for that. In the meantime, here's a little something I made this afternoon :) IMG_20231108_185855.jpgIMG_20231108_190251.jpg

Quote from: instantreigen on Nov 08, 2023, 18:07

I should also share my pics here sometime soon - need to get them on my laptop for that. In the meantime, here's a little something I made this afternoon :) IMG_20231108_185855.jpgIMG_20231108_190251.jpg

Those Polaroids look ace!! 🤙

Usually not a fan of kids being on social media but this is kinda cute. Must have been the youngest fan I've come across at a Chems gig. Kudos to the parents who took him there!

"I waited ages for this moment, and it's finally come"  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jEbxWoH4ek

Quote from: Csar on Nov 08, 2023, 23:04

Usually not a fan of kids being on social media but this is kinda cute. Must have been the youngest fan I've come across at a Chems gig. Kudos to the parents who took him there!

"I waited ages for this moment, and it's finally come"  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jEbxWoH4ek

Oh my god! OK. This kid is rad. I watched through to the end and it did not disappoint :D He's funny and he's just the cutest. Loved his comments and his shots of the visuals and crowd. Nails it. Got to love how awestruck and how genuinely moved he was during some parts. 

The kids reaction at 15:08 for EV drop. "Oh. My. God!" 
Priceless 

I'm still not emotionally over that tour and particularly the last show...met some amazing people who have instantly become amazing friends...

Along with the incredible love I felt at the Dublin show for my 50th I can only conclude that the crew, fans and Tom n Ed are just the most special amazing people in music...

 :luv

So happy for you, @chemdup ! Warms my heart to read that. Bonding moments are the greatest.

Somebody recorded the London show, if you wanna go back down memory lane!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvrlTiekeU