Two Friends, NOTD & Deerock – Skyline Stage – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Two Friends, NOTD & Deerock – Skyline Stage at the Mann – Philadelphia, PA – June 17, 2023

A Night on Planet Two Friends

Two Friends – aka Eli Stones and Mathew Halper – are known for their “Big Bootie Mixes” and their bi-annual festival “Big Bootie Land.” Stones and Halper are longtime friends and musical collaborators. The dance-pop duo has listeners ranging from college kids to grown adults. The pair’s viral remixes of popular songs such as “Mr. Brightside” and “I Miss You” helped them break out into the global dance music landscape.

Their current headline tour, Planet Two Friends, made a stop at the Skyline Stage in Philly on June 17th. The first opener Deerock created a fun atmosphere as fans arrived at the show. He understood the crowd, shouting “Go Birds!” The set ranged from an original song titled “I Remember” to a remix of “Mine” by Taylor Swift.

The second opening act of the night was NOTD, a Swedish pop-dance duo. They brought another level of energy to the night as they took to the stage. The peak was the moment Tobi jumped into the crowd of fans. Their mix of “Unholy” by Sam Smith hyped up the sea of people waiting in excitement.

Finally, it was time for Two Friends to take the stage. Right before they came on, the screen behind the stage displayed Two Friends themed trivia questions. It unified the crowd of fans as they talked amongst themselves in anticipation.

The graphics, lights, and stage design were very on point with the theme of the tour, Planet Two Friends. The intro video made it feel like you were inside of a spaceship. When the duo appeared, they popped out from a UFO where they performed from most of the show. Amongst the lasers and smoke cannons, the UFO even got raised in the air in the middle of the set.

The chemistry between the duo is impossible to miss. It was clear that they were having the time of their lives on stage. Their stage presence was felt by the whole crowd, as the two of them ran around the stage and stood on top of their UFO during their mixes.

They played a number of hits, from “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” to “Electric Love” and throwbacks from “Candy Shop” to “Clarity.” Two Friends also played some original songs including, “Looking at You.”

All in all, this show was a ton of fun. Both Eli and Mathew’s energy was unmatched, not to mention the fans dancing the entire time. Two Friends have a handful of shows left on their summer tour and it would be a shame to miss out on a great night out.

Emily DiMarcangelo