SOUNDTRACK: CHROMEO-Tiny Desk Concert #797 (October 19, 2018).
I’m not sure if I’ve heard of Chromeo, but the name is pretty great.
The band consists of David Macklovitch (Dave 1–Vocals/Guitar) and Patrick Gemayel (P-Thugg–Bass/Talk Box). They have a pretty classic Prince/funk sound. But how can they be so funky if they don’t have a live band?
Self-proclaimed “Funklordz” Chromeo played with a live band for the first time at the Tiny Desk. The duo usually performs their live shows over backing tracks with shimmering chrome guitars and keyboards mounted on mannequin lady legs.
I need to see that. But for this show, there is a live band, which may change their desire to be just a duo, because they sound great.
For “Count Me Out” Dave 1 sings and plays guitar. P-Thugg plays a great slap bass and, the biggest surprise–a keyboard-operated talk box.
Mid song they shift gears to a major funk storm in “Jealous (I Ain’t With It).” I love hearing P-Thugg robot singing “I Ain’t With It” and then talk-boxing a synth solo.
But the story of Chromeo is pretty fun as well.
David Macklovitch (Dave 1) and Patrick Gemayel (P-Thugg) met when they were 15 while growing up in Montreal and have been cranking out the electro-funk jams ever since. At first glance, their Jewish and Arab partnership might seem unlikely. But their signature sounds are undeniably infectious, epitomized by P-Thugg’s Talk Box – an instrument that transforms his vocals into robotic sounds. On being Canadian, P-Thugg announced in his robot voice “it’s very, very cold” to which Dave 1 quipped, “it’s cold… free healthcare.”
The backing band mostly adds synths and drums. I assume that these could all be electronic, but it feels so much more real with everyone else there. In the middle of “Jealous,” P-Thugg takes off his bass and Eric “E-Watt” Whatley starts playing a great funky bass of his own. But the band looks like a cohesive unit (it’s amazing that this is the first time they’ve played together).
The band was outfitted in go-go-style matching uniforms custom embroidered with the words “Funk Lordz.” The Philadelphia based line-up included keyboardist Eugene “Man-Man” Roberts and legendary percussionists Rashid Williams and Aaron Draper.
“Don’t Sleep” has a very 70’s sound–with some great synthy work from Man-Man. I don’t know if the song always has this middle section, but Dave 1 shouts, “we’re in DC right?”
With a nod to DC’s own funky go-go music scene of the ’70s, their …. breakdown at the end of the song “Don’t Sleep” was a fitting tribute to NPR’s hometown, Washington, D.C.
Even though their songs seems to be kind of negative (Jealous, Don’t Sleep on Me), the music is fun and dancy. The final song “Must’ve Been” continues that fun, talk-box hook-filled tunage.
Listening to Chromeo is a joyous affair. Watching them get funky with a stellar band behind The Desk for the very first time, it’s impossible to sit still.
Chromeo completely won me over. Also, how do they not have French accents?
[READ: November 28, 2018] “Snowing in Greenwich Village”
The December 3, 2018 issue of the New Yorker was an archival issue, meaning that every story was taken from an earlier issue. The range is something like 1975-2006, which is odd since the New Yorker dates back so much longer. Although the fiction pieces are at least from the 1940s and 1950s.
This story felt a lot more timeless than the Stafford story. It is about a young married couple and the first visitor to their new place.
The Maples had just moved in and their friend Rebecca Cune had come over for a drink.
Rebecca tells them about her previous living arrangement with a woman and that woman’s boyfriend. The Maples had lived in a log cabin in a YMCA camp for the first three months of their marriage.
Drinks were passed around and Richard was playing the good ghost. (more…)
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