Did you know that 90% of the vinyl produced over the last 50 years has been literally thrown away?

That depressing fact was part of the well-crafted video opening of "The Hard Sell," a brand new two-man DJ routine by Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow debuted at the Hollywood Bowl. Both incredibly skilled DJs with infinite crates of meticulously collected vinyl, this particular routine is done with 45 records only. The video also succinctly explained exactly what those two guys were doing up there behind that ominous bank of turntables and mixers. Part detailed account of the history of vinyl records to a not-so-subtle slap at computer-based digital DJs (I especially liked the robot blasting iPods out of the sky), the video faded nicely into the set.

With a battery of cameras set up along the turntables capturing every angle of the action (including one on Chemist's arm, providing a POV of him cueing records), the DJs tore through a panoramic set of music that ranged from spacey, Pink Floyd ambiance to dirty south hip-hop to a grip of original source records sampled on De La Soul’s seminal debut Three Feet High and Rising.

It all came to a climax when Chemist and Shadow strapped on portable mini-turntables to rock the crowd metal-style, cutting up 45s over a Metallica track. Dopeness personified. Let’s hope we get a chance to see this one again.

Scott T. Sterling is Music editor for Metromix Los Angeles.