The Chainsmokers at the Roundhouse

New York-based EDM duo The Chainsmokers, who first came on the scene with their viral (if not fleeting) track Selfie in 2014, played a sold-out show at the Camden Roundhouse.

The pair began with their number one song featuring Halsey, Closer, and just when we thought the remnants of dubstep had died, it stuck up its muddy, buried hand from the grave into the light. The duo led seamlessly into Inside Out, though such effortless transitions were sometimes detrimental to their set as the tracks – fairly similar once put all together – began to blend into one.

The lights and pyrotechnics that The Chainsmokers displayed were fairly impressive: there were fires, fireworks and streamers during every song. However, though the music got the crowd going, as did the light shows and effects, the band members themselves didn’t make much of an impression.

Alex Pall and Drew Taggart seemed like fairly standard club DJs; “Everybody say yeah!” was their favourite line of the night, mixed with the eclectic if not strange mix of samples in their songs, from KISS to DJ Khaled to Panic! At the Disco, making it feel like the cheese night at a local bar.

They introduced their new single Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay, which they played live at the BRIT Awards earlier in the week, and the fans erupted: this is obviously the tune that’s going to put the pair on the musical map.

If The Chainsmokers’ music does not appeal, it’s like being the only sober one on a night out. The lack of performance, so to speak, from the duo themselves was made up for by the sheer energy of everyone in the Roundhouse; no matter what the sample, from hip-hop to heavy metal, the crowd certainly had a good time. 

Steph Coles
Photo: The Come Up Show

For further information about The Chainsmokers and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay live at the BRITS here: