Vinyl Life Music: NYC Concert Review - Daft Punk & Beastie Boys

Summer is always the season for the best concerts in NYC and Daft Punk's long awaited return was no disappointment. Imagine a collage of their three albums all mashed into an hour and a half of dance music perfection. DP's praise to their roots is still apparent. Tastes of Chicago and Detroit are present alongside the poppier stuff. Obviously, the source of the album title "Homework" comes from DP's love for their "Teachers". Many skeptics think that their faking the funk up there and fronting with robot helmets on. I know what it sounds like when a DJ works the EQ or filters and i can confidently say that they are, at the very least, DJing up there. I'd like to believe that there are even more factors that they are in control of, but that's for them (and the sound guy) to know. Regardless of how it is done, they rocked the shit out of Coney Island. The light show, visuals, and music all built up beautifully together. It was legendary. Strong in concept and craft, Daft Punk are at the top of electronic music.

The following night, 8/10/07, I was fortunate enough to have tickets to the Beastie Boys gala event at Hammerstein Ballroom. This was their third show in three days following Central Park and Brooklyn's McCarren pool. The Beasties are also legends within their genre and they are still killing it. What other rap groups have been around for twenty years and are rapping in 2007 while playing guitar and drums? That is unprecedented on so many levels. Not to mention that they are still a punk band that can get the moshers riled up just to play a funk jam two minutes later. All of their gear is decked out in clear plastic from MCA's double bass & bass rig to Money Mark's synth collection. The video show is this ridiculous Calder mobile with various screens hanging off of it. The music was amazing and the Boys have still got it on stage. What a weekend.