My very good friend Einar described it like being at the VMA’s but with a shitload more tequila, people, foamy mats. How Diesel pulled off their Brooklyn circus, and 17 other parties around the world, as well as broadcasting them live on Diesel TV, required really one important thing - fuckloads of marketing money.
To those inside the tent (and I am sure it was more than 5000), we witnessed a festival grade musical line-up, as well as two ringside bars pouring liquid into anything they could find once the cups ran out. I luckily held tight to the empty Pepsi can which politely housed anything but Pepsi.
The entrance application. Under live music, it says, “and many more.” They were not kidding.
The wrapped tent. A much bigger affair than assumed.
The long walk on the highway.
The front of the Diesel House. Bar to the right.
Hot Chip.
T.I. invites M.I.A. out for some “Swagger.”
A little jam with T.I. and Franz Ferdinand.
At the beginning of the Franz set the fire marshall came onstage and asked people to kindly repel off the balconies and make it down to the ringside floor or the party was going to end. It took a moment, but people listened. If they had not moved, we may have well missed the mega finale.
M.I.A. heavily pregnant but still looking amazing rips into her set…
But as quickly, the boys from N*E*R*D joined her crew on stage…
And together they demo’d the room. “Paper Planes” duet and all.
N*E*R*D broke into “Lapdance” and closed with “Everyone Nose” which encored with N*E*R*D mashing The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” LIVE (I said LIVE) with “Everyone Nose.” That deserved a big old “holy shit.”
And how about the Margiela V-Man jacket on Pharell. You are indeed the king of bravado, my friend.
Now for some film…
M.I.A. and N*E*R*D. You know the track. Purposely shaky. I did drink a lot of Don Julio.
Some sights from ringside in between sets. If you listen close enough you can hear the magic question.
Who did we run into?
Hey! Its Stockholm’s Einar!
A man with four actual eyes.
A nice girl. Sorry we forgot your name!
And the lovely Christina who dropped a tab and was looking for god on the tight rope.
That is a lie. She was actually just pretending.
That is it. Show is over but where the fuck are Marcus and Tim?
Special “thank you” the to girl grinding me during “Lapdance” for making it feel all the more special.
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Now, if you have read this far…
I want to say thank you to Andrea Rosso, the mastermind behind 55DSL for sitting down with HighSnobiety on Friday for a great conversation. Coincidentally 55DSL is celebrating their 15th birthday next year. More on that shortly. Big thanks to Ann for letting this online outlet into your world.
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