Live Review: Daft Punk at Keyspan Park [08.09.07]

The infamous neon pyramid had just light up. In the cockpit were Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, bobbing their robotic helmets as “Robot Rock” blasted through the amps. A group of grown men behind me responded by screaming, “OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!” What John, Paul, George and Ringo were to countless, shrieking girls during Beatlemania is what Daft Punk were to the thousands at Keyspan Park. Yes, it is possible — it was a French invasion.

The audience hollered in recognition of familiar tunes and even louder as beloved tracks dissolved and swirled into another. The pyramid and fluorescent grids complimented in perfect synchrony. It was a stunning, multi-sensory bombardment. (Evident from the smoke above the glow stick bejeweled fist pumping, for others, it was a sensory affair on an entirely different level.)

Despite the thrill, there was an element of predictability. Having repeatedly listened to their triumphant set from last year’s Coachella, I already knew how Bangalter and de Homem-Christo would execute their beats. (Not to mark myself as a cross-armed stoic – believe me, I was breaking out my best moves.) Slighting my experience at first, this ultimately made the encore especially satisfying. Brandishing new outfits outlined in red neon, the duo delivered a new mix, unfamiliar and awesome. As the chords “One More Time” sliced through the night once more, the audience exploded into an uproar of fist-pumping, jumping, and body-shaking, and I along with them.

[Photo by Diana W]