The chants of “Chromeo, ooooh-oh!” started before even the two openers took the stage at the Roseland on a lovely Friday the 13th. From glowing legs to crowd surfers, the night was packed with a palpable energy that was spread and fed by Telephoned, Holy Ghost!, and finally, Dave 1 and P-Thugg.
Telephoned is maybe what would happen if YACHT got into an orgy with Miss Kitten and the Hacker. The duo of dj/noise masher Sammy Bananas (his real name no doubt) and a party packed in a red dress, Maggie Horn, have a unique corner on the cover band block. They’ll keep the words, but mess with the beat while keeping the danceable hook. And they’ll sprinkle in other recognizable beats without warning, which makes for a dance party that makes you work to identify what song(s) is actually working its way through your eardrums. It ended up being cool (when it could have gone very, very bad); they even did Chromeo’s “Night By Night,” which the crowd readily ate up.
I was lucky enough to have seen (and reviewed) Holy Ghost! just a few months ago when the quartet opened for LCD Soundsystem. This gave me time to listen to their music more, fall in love, and then get to see them in a new light. My Trusty Sidekick had yet to hear the band, and I promised that they wouldn’t let her down. They didn’t. This time I was ready, and as they opened their set with “Say My Name,” I was already rocking out. The crowd seemed to have done their homework too; “Hold On” got more than a few hollers and sing-a-longs and a set that started somewhat restrained turned into an all out bash as the sold out crowd arrived and packed the dance floor.
HG! frontman Alex Frankel nailed the newest occupation for Portland: the logger-slash-model. With a red plaid shirt and the skinniest damn jeans I have ever seen a person wear, we feared for his balance, but he maneuvered the drums, cowbell and synth just fine. Trusty Sidekick and I argued over who was the cutest in the band, and it was decided they all need to call us! Or….just put out a whole album already.
The last time I saw Chromeo was in Berbati’s Pan with a pack of crazy, sweaty rabid fans and people hanging back just doing that terrible ‘hipsters on a perch’ thing. I was all the way in front and ended the night with a spontaneous acappella version of “Tenderoni” on the sidewalk eating Voodoo Donuts with other Chromeo-lovers.
While I’m not sure where those perchers were, I can safely say the pack was back. And they brought their friends. By the end of HG!’s set, the floor was moving en masse and the balcony was stuffed. When the lights dimmed and those keyboards with the hot legs were unveiled…the energy amped up even farther, to a point of no return. What followed was nearly two hours of mayhem, vocoders and a helluva lot of fun. Supporting their new album, Business Casual, Chromeo opened with a new song and jammed right into “Tenderoni” and “Call Me Up.”
Wearing his standard vest and jeans, Dave 1 seemed genuinely amused at the dedication of the crowd. No matter how far they went back (“Needy Girl” and “You’re So Gangsta” showed up) everyone seemed to already be singing along. He let the crowd take a few lines of “Bonified Love” and it was magical, like we’d all practiced and had just been waiting to be unleashed. A few crowd surfers, water bottles spraying from the balcony; this was a show with an unreal amount of sheer joy and fun. When P-Thugg asked us to scream, it was the loudest I’ve heard the Roseland get—ever. By the encores, paper cups had been turned into fans flapped in time with “Mama’s Boy.” It was a great show, from start to finish, and no one was ready to go when the house lights came up.
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Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Also, I have yet to pay this venue a visit, is it good spot? good people, good vibe, good atmosphere?
... man, i hope i win some tickets…
by Jaz Bonnin-Aldatz on Thu May 17, 2012 at 12.27 am from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Looking forward to the show. Would love to win some tix for my pals.
by MC Breath on Wed May 16, 2012 at 07.40 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
I’m dying to see him no better place than FETE!!
by Telly on Tue May 15, 2012 at 02.57 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Sound does matter. Viva Le Fete!
by Auquanetta on Tue May 15, 2012 at 01.13 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
YES! i MUST go to this show! i was just strollin down the street the other day and saw the poster! SO stoked they’ll be in town.
by Jaz on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.30 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Fete Forever!!
by Tabitha on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.08 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Congratulations and thank you to Fete for bringing talent to Providence! We needed this venue and vibe. Bless.
oh and I’d love to win tickets; its my boyfriends bday:D
by Ellen on Mon May 14, 2012 at 07.23 am from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Love these photos, Ian!