Chromeo-oh. CHROMEOoo-OH.
The crowd loudly chants in perfect unison – in feverish anticipation of what is sure to be a night of non-stop bump and grind. The moment the self-proclaimed “only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture” emerges from the darkness and Dave 1 utters “Two-step! Two-step! Two-step!” the audience erupts in a wild frenzy and the first wave of cries of euphoric excitement explodes upon the scene.
The splendid yet unlikely pairing of Dave 1, a lanky half-Moroccan hipster god with confidence in spades and P-Thugg, a burly Lebanese G and synth master of groove, is embodied in their unique sound: a deadly combo of 80’s old-school funk and new age electro music aesthetics. The venue is quickly transformed from a concert hall to a club in a dizzying swirl of lights and constant motion. Hotties, bodies all around—a smirk here and a look there, all behind the façade of wayfarers, as Dave 1 manages to make every girl swoon, and piss off every guy trying to score.
Such was the atmosphere a few weeks ago at the Phoenix Concert Theatre when Chromeo last graced us humble Torontonians with their dance-funk charisma and talk-box skillz. Once again, they are scheduled to take the stage — but this time at the Engage Orientation 2010 Concert Friday, at Back Campus field with hometown sweethearts ZEUS and Allie Hughes, as the highlight of UTSU’s orientation. Hopefully, the concert will make all of that group chanting and those horrible t-shirts that you’ve worn all week worthwhile.
Chromeo is best known for its eclectic upbeat mix of Dave 1’s catchy guitar riffs, P-Thugg’s funky synth beats and talk-box magic and their sexy mostly female fan base. This two-some began creating music together at the tender age of 15, while both were in high school and still known as Dave Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel.
All the while, Dave 1 is earning a PhD in French Literature at Columbia University where he also teaches undergraduate classes in French. One person, two lives: Professor Macklovitch, poring over Laclos and de Sade in the library by day versus donning a flying-V guitar night by night as Dave 1. Not to mention Monsieur Gemayel, with a history as a number crunching accountant that completely disappears once he assumes his gold-toothed guise, would be a travesty considering this couple may just be the closest thing to superheroes I have ever seen.
Who needs capes and X-ray vision when you have instant anthems like ‘Needy Girl’, ‘Momma’s Boy and Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys)”? Their third LP, Business Casual drops September 14th.
Chromeo will perform alongside Zeus and Allie Hughes at Back Campus field Friday. 4pm.
