The Chemical Brothers have been renowned for their exhilarating live performances for over thirty years and if their early November show is anything to go by, it proves experience pays off. The crowd is made of equal number Gen Z newbies and original fans from back in the days of Planet Dust; a testament to the ability of the band to constantly evolve and bring in new listeners while maintaining a strong connection with their big beat roots.
The setlist is gloriously saturated with upbeat bangers, which are masterfully scattered throughout the show to simultaneously create a refreshingly unpredictable mix and give status to some of the more surprising additions. Their first album features heavily throughout and their new material is woven seamlessly into this celebration of their decades-long career.
Sophie McCready, who was at the performance and witnessed the formation of Ed and Tom Chemical back in their years at the University of Manchester, said:
“Their live shows just go from strength to strength. The outstanding visuals elevate the show and just get better and better. It helps that the new album is off the scale amazing too!”
Anyone who is familiar with The Chemical Brothers comes to expect live shows brimming with creatively crafted projections, holograms and laser routines. They do not disappoint. The light show is quintessentially Chemical Brothers but also feels contemporary and fresh. A highlight being the pair of 3D robot holograms, the height of double-decker buses, which appeared to float at either side of the stage before vanishing as soon as the records switched. Other graphic performers included dancing, neon toy soldiers and shouting demons with bright blue devil horns.
People who believe performing electronic music just requires lining up a queue of records and letting technology do the rest are completely invalidated in the face of The Chemical Brothers. Every track is a unique version to the performance and is edited live on stage. This results in heavier drops, lengthier analogs and the rediscovery of familiar tracks from new, exciting perspectives. Not only is the Chems’ stage craft exceptional but the listening of their concert stays interesting as they shift effortlessly between genres and years, adding new layers of technical delight on every track.
Overall, The Chemical Brothers gave the whole crowd a night to remember. Whether you were there in the pit or sitting up in the steep walls of the O2, the electric extravaganza continues to be a masterclass for all electronic bands of the future.
