Daft Punk/ Kavinsky / The Rapture / SebastiAn

Headlining shows for the first time since 1997’s Daftendirektour, Daft Punk brought their vastly evolved live set to the largest non-festival audience they’ve played to in North America. Those arriving early were treated to a lustrous and solid DJ set from Ed Banger record’s SebastiAn, playing on an ingeniously constructed stage located behind the soundboard. NYC ass-shakers the Rapture followed up on the opposite side of the arena with a set that, aurally, can only be described as immaculate. Free from Ewan Pearson’s colonial production, material from Pieces of the People We Love was given a more unrefined and powerful sound. The second of the three Parisian acts, Kavinsky effortlessly slashed into an unreservedly high-energy set transforming the packed Centre Bell into a near communal dance party. "The greatest show you’ve ever seen” (according to the Rapture’s Luke Jenner) was set in motion when the curtains parted, revealing Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter’s magnificent vision. Emerging from a 2001: A Space Odyssey-esque monolith, the sheer mass and sophistication of Daft Punk’s stage show was greeted with an enormous response from the crowd. Clad in full-on robotic space attire and encircled by massive LCD screens and lights, the duo opened with an untouched and thunderous rendition of "Robot Rock.” Accompanied by pre-recorded backing tracks, Daft Punk produced virtual remixes, dropping samples and beats on top of their material. Clearly inspired by their upcoming film, Daft Punk’s Electroma, the band completed their transformation from robot to mortal with an unmitigated version of "Human After All” before waving to the crowd, providing the only audience interaction of the evening. Daft Punk have always presented themselves as the biggest band on the planet, although they have never been close. The Alive 2007 tour allows you to pretend they are for one night.