Tag Archives: Chromeo

Arts & Entertainment, Music

RECAP: CHBP 2014

Cataldo CHBP 2014
Cataldo CHBP 2014

Lemolo (Photo: Kelsey Kaufman)

Shy Girls (Photo: Kelsey Kaufman)

Cataldo (Photo: Kelsey Kaufman)

Cataldo (Photo: Kelsey Kaufman)

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After a fall-like week, the summer heat came out just in time for 17th annual Capitol Hill Block Party. The crowds weren’t nearly as thick as years past, but the urban festival in Seattle’s hippest neighborhood didn’t disappoint.

Best Overall: Chromeo

“I Bonafide love you.” Chromeo doesn’t pretend to be anything other than funky, good fun. Is it something I would listen to in my spare time? No. Does it make for one hell of a festival show? Yes.

Best Comeback: Beat Connection

Tom Eddy is one of Seattle’s greatest under-the-radar musical gems. Just less than a year ago, I saw Beat Connection perform at a PDX “club” in almost complete darkness. I was afraid these guys couldn’t bring the same energy in the daylight. Damn, was I wrong.

Most Likely to Remember: SOL

“Paint” and “Need Your Love” were lovely reminders of a Northwest hip-hop scene that is stronger than ever.

Biggest Disappointment: Whoever decided to schedule Shy Girls & Lemolo at the same time

Best Dance Party: Robert DeLong

Another Seattleite! DeLong makes beats and loops live onstage, and he also writes his own lyrics. His album Just Movement is ridiculously catchy. However, if you listen closely to the lyrics, his sentiments are more spiritual and thought provoking than you might expect from an electronic artist.

Best WTF Moment: The names of some of the bands in the lineup

Wolfgang Fuck, So Pitted. Power Bottom. While I (unfortunately) never got the chance to see any of these bands, some of my friends based their CHBP viewing schedules solely on whoever had the most cleverly titled name. Well done Sex Blister, well done.

Most Talked About: A$AP Rocky

It was the most anticipated performance of the weekend and A$AP Rocky & co. made the middle of Pike a mosh pit for “Wild for The Night.” This pretty mothafucka (wink wink) closed out the weekend with his signature wild antics, and we all loved it.

Most Likely to be a Headliner Next Year: Natasha Kmeto 

Best Up & Comer: NAVVI

Interview coming soon!! 

Other bands that rocked: Slow Magic, Shaprece, Pollens.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Chromeo and Mayer Hawthorne: Silky-Smooth Retro Soul Sounds in SoDo Next Week

When Chromeo took the mainstage at Sasquatch earlier this year, they were shocked by the size of the crowd. “We did not expect this from an afternoon set,” said one-half of the Montreal-based electro-funk/pop duo. Despite the 2:45 set time—a time when, let’s be honest, many festival-goers were still sleeping off their hangovers back at camp—a massive, cheering crowd turned the mainstage into a dance party like no other that weekend:

The party continues this Monday at Showbox SoDo when Chromeo returns to Washington—this time for a proper, headlining gig, with Mayer Hawthorne supporting. It’s true, Chromeo isn’t for everyone. Their R&B/funk/pop sound, dripping with Moog, is straight outta the ’80s, with slick, modern production values. Think: an edgier Hall and Oates. So if you’re considering hitting up this show, there’s one question you’ve got to ask yourself: “Am I cool enough to dance in public?” If the answer is no, stay home. But if your boogie shoes are itching to come out, tickets are $27.50 (not including Ticketmaster fees) and still available.

As for Hawthorne, he’s an old-soul Michigander heavily influenced by the Motown and Detroit sounds he heard as a kid—but, like Chromeo, he brings a modern twist to his retro grooves. Celebs (including Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, and…Deepak Chopra?) have tweeted his praises, but Hawthorne’s name may also sound familiar if you’ve visited the iTunes Store in the past few days; his track “No Strings” is the free single of the week.