The Chainsmokers at Camden Roundhouse review

Ben Jolley witnessed the duo in action as their popularity soars.

Date published: 28th Feb 2017

Image credit: Sam Nahirny

On the penultimate night of a sold-out three-show run at Camden’s 1,700-capacity Roundhouse, controversial chart-toppers The Chainsmokers prove why they are the biggest name in electronic dance music right now.

With streams in the billions and a worldwide number one hit to their name thanks to the inescapably catchy ‘Closer’, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall are having the time of their lives – and it shows in their onstage antics.

“If you came down for the best fucking night of your life let me hear you,” Drew shouts, amping up the audience early on – though it’s hardly needed. Leaping on top of the massive DJ decks in front of them at regular intervals, the set seems to travel at a million miles an hour. 

Packing in a whole host of dubstep drops, trap-heavy edits of pop hits and totally unexpected hit and miss remixes (The Killers’ ‘Mr Brightside’ and Kiss’ ‘I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night’), it’s a whirlwind 90 minutes that barely pauses for breath. 

It takes just five minutes for the first cannon load of coloured paper to fly overhead, covering the room; another 10 before fiery pyrotechnics heat up the energetic, mainly teenage crowd.

Add to that stadium-worthy strobe lighting, playful animated visuals (DJing dogs, stand out most) and chest-vibrating bass that makes you feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest, and it’s easy to align the American duo’s show with the no-expense-spared live set-up of Steve Aoki and David Guetta.

Sat in front of us is a young boy and his dad - they both seem to enjoy the show just as much (though he does have to cover his son’s ears a few times because of the swearing), while a group of guys and girls hang over the barrier headbanging as if at a rock concert and a circle of topless guys in the centre of the crowd create circle pits.

Despite their marmite blend of EDM and pop dividing critics, their own hits are undeniably catchy – and miles ahead of 2014’s ‘#Selfie’, which is all but forgotten now.

Though, the hyperactive show’s better moments come when they slow things down (ever so briefly) and turn down the bass to perform the playlist-friendly hits they’re known for: ‘Setting Fires’, ‘All We Know’ and ‘Paris’ have everyone singing along whilst recording the performance on their iPhones.

‘Don’t Let Me Down’ gets a second airing as the show comes to a close; soon after their new Coldplay collaboration ‘Something Just Like This’, which, based on tonight’s reaction alone, is about to set the charts alight.

Catch The Chainsmokers at this year's Creamfields festival