I am somewhat guarded as I enter Broken City on this unseasonably warm Calgary evening to observe the spectacle that is Chromeo. Reason is, I can’t help but feel that a joke is being played. You see, Chromeo is either an incredibly hip novelty act or, as I am starting to suspect, a novelty act that is so genuine in their endeavours that the lines between joke and seriousness have seriously blurred. While the ironic and/or earnest intentions of the gimmicks are up for debate, the laundry list includes the folliwng: ironic high fashion, only two band members, an ample supply of 80s cheese beats, copious (read: almost every song) usage of the talk box (that talking guitar thing made famous by Peter Frampton) and the combination of a Jew and an Arab (this isn’t so much a gimmick as a note of interest). The band’s bio describes their sound as follows: “Together, their blend of rigorously catchy song structures, memorable hooks and twirling guitar solos conjures up images of a sophisticated, thugged-out Hall & Oates (except you don’t secretly suspect that they make out).” This is about right, but it would be a safe bet to also add late 90s Bon Jovi, Queen and some Survivor to the mix. These guys almost come off as big of a joke as having George Bush re-elected. Well, that one is actually pretty tough to top.

Nonetheless, the band have some impressive credentials-signed to Vice records their labelmates include DFA 1979 (Chromeo will soon remix a DFA track) and The Streets. Frontman Dave 1 was formerly in Bran Van 3000, is currently completing his Ph.D. in French Literature at Columbia and is always the big brother of world renowned DJ A Trak (who recently DJ’ed Kanye West’s tour). To top this off, Pee Thug is a registered accountant in the band’s home base of Montreal. And he wears a thug getup, gold teeth, and works a talk box like a motherfucker.

Either in spite of or because of this gobbledygook, I’m not quite sure; the band drew an impressive crowd for their Calgary debut. Members of Vailhalen and The Dudes were seen wandering about, as was the immortal Tron of Fubar fame. (Sorry dude, I know you have a name and you seem like good people, but yeah, Tron!) A robot and a skeleton also made appearances, as did some of the sharpest dressed fat kats in town.

Deadmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out opened the show. These fellers were just dynamite. Of course, the mood in the room was already electric with anticipation for the evening’s events, so it would be tough to lose with the crowd. Still, the band’s onstage presence was laudable, and the fury and fun with which they attacked their songs left the punters in a state of joyous elation. Coming with a groove heavy attack that included two bass players, two drummers, keyboards and a whole host of special effects, the band is best described as an electronic rock Raptureesque quantum physics mad attack of remarkably danceable tunes. Whatever was going on up there, it was organized confusion that some of you in the know might refer to as “sick”. Weather your specialty was the waltz, the cha cha or the lawnmower, you could dance to this. Check this band out if you get a chance.

After the great opening set the bar was set exceptionally high; the night had the potential to be the stuff of legend. And then…well, and then the night sort of became a non-event. And this is in no way a knock against the good lads Chromeo. It would seem that the bands gear did not show up on time, preventing the band from doing a sound check. Add a remarkably incompetent soundman to the mix and you’re left with a show that is doomed from the start. In lieu of a powerhouse opening the crowd was instead treated to a sound check that found the band in somewhat nonplussed spirits as the soundman could not for the life of him meet the band’s desires, and after a series of requests for “more volume; no less bass; no more volume in this monitor; no I can’t hear Pee-Thug…” the band launched into their show.

“Needy Girl”, the first single and easily the band’s best song came early in the set, but did not reach a level of energy remotely close to what it should have been. Dave One and Pee-Thug were doing their best, but it was obvious that the energy in the room had gone down in the midst of all the technical issues. A cover of Guns’n’Roses “Patience” was unexpected and warmly accepted, though, I gotta say, if Axl Rose were dead he would be rolling in his grave. Look around for a bootleg of Chromeo’s take on the song, it does not disappoint.

Halfway through the set the band gave up on the monitors entirely, and while this did add an element of spontaneity to the show it was evident that it was not what the band had in mind. To be expected, then, that stage banter was limited to rumblings about the sound and the repetitive “we are Chromeo”.

Don’t get me wrong, there were people in attendance who were clearly having a great time and the band were far from bland, the set just came as a letdown as compared to what could have been.

The Spinal Tap element of the night came when the band announced the end of the show and walked to the side of the small stage, cos there was nowhere else to go, and waited about 33 seconds to come back for an encore. “Needy Girl” got a hilarious second showing for the encore, and the night officially ended with a loving Rick James tribute.

All told, Chromeo are an act worth checking out, just that tonight didn’t go so well for them. Chromeo are the kind of band either you love or hate. Or you sorta like them or sorta dislike them. Or maybe your opinion falls somewhere in the middle. Anyways, if all else fails, at least check out their stellar video for “Needy Girl” at Vice Recordings.

Until next time, peace in the Middle East (let Chromeo lead by example).

Elsewhere

By Kevin Halpin
Photos : snowpatrol.net
Published February 2005.