11.25
People take a shitload of amazing things for granted these days, the internet perhaps topping this list. It’s the most powerful tool at our world’s disposal, but you don’t need me to tell you that, do you? I’d like to think that the blossoming of dance music over the past 5+ years has the internet to thank. Makes total sense right? A brand of musical experience that takes its strongest roots in connection, both large scale and small scale, becomes exponentially more popular as a result of the global circulation of information and coming together of people. Youtube and other sister sites like Google video and Facebook video are a massive part of this. Being able to experience concerts/raves/festivals taking place on the other side of the globe is a blessing, and I can only imagine the envy of older generations. Imagine our parents if they were able to hunch over their laptops and relive Jimi at Woodstock. We are a lucky group of kids.
Having said that (the Curb Your Enthusiasm finale was amazing, was it not?), here are some of my favorite moments in live music as captured through the lenses of Youtube documentarians and released into the annals of cyberspace. I hope they have the same effect on you(tube) as they do on I(tube)!
Daft Punk, Alive 2007, Los Angeles – Encore
The Daftness. My first foray into the act of shamelessly reliving epic nights through Youtube media. Daft Punk’s legendary Alive 2007 performance was especially meaningful for me, as it lit the fire underneath my DJing/raving career and essentially changed my life. This video captures their particularly moving encore, which features a brilliantly arranged medley of seminal hits like Music Sounds Better With You, Together, One More Time, Aerodynamic, and other new material. If you search hard enough, you’ll be sure to find a few awestruck reactions of mine in the comment section!
Sasha & John Digweed, Together as One 2007-2008, Los Angeles – Countdown
You may have gathered from my posts and mixes that I lean less toward the Tiestos and David Guettas of the world and more toward the Sashas and Digweeds. Their unpretentious, seamlessly-mixed, hypnotic techno beats are a force. Misha and I had the pleasure to witness these remarkable grooves firsthand at the 2007-2008 installment of LA’s Together as One New Years party. They threw down a classy, quality set that had every head in the house nodding for 4 hours, punctuated by a joyous countdown to the New Year laden with Eric Prydz’ phenomenal track “Armed”. Be sure not to miss Digweed at this year’s TAO if you go.
Roger Waters, Coachella 2008, Indio – Us and Them
Does it get any more epic than Roger Waters performing Dark Side of the Moon at the most celebrated festival in America? If it does, I don’t think we’ve seen it yet. This show left an imprint on minds and souls that dime-a-dozen raves could only dream of emulating. I always find myself at a loss for words whenever I attempt to convey how beautiful it was when the audience was showered in light and music with the turn of each chorus, but maybe this video will help.
Moby DJ set, Electric Daisy Carnival 2008, Los Angeles – Miles Dyson – Anthem
I’ll always have fond memories of the otherwise melancholy and downtempo Moby coming out of nowhere to rock 80,000 ravers with one of the best DJ sets the city had seen in ages. I mean, I knew he was the architect of rave anthems like “Go”, but the effect his set had on people was unprecedented. Miles Dyson’s huge track ‘Anthem’ was a personal highlight of the night, and the video is particularly well shot.
The Chemical Brothers DJ Set, Coachella 2009, Indio – Finale
The pinnacle of my EDM life thus far. The Brothers Chemical are heroes are mine, and to them spin at my favorite festival was a dream come true. I’ve made a post on the subject before, but their set was ‘la creme de la creme’. This video documents their set’s last track, an epic, not-yet-released, sure-to-become classic MONSTER of a track reminiscent of past Chem Bros anthems like The Sunshine Underground, The Private Psychedelic Reel, and Surface to Air. Beautiful stuff.
So which Youtubes hit close to home for you? Share your own favorite videos in the comment section!
© 2009, Rob. All rights reserved.
