Coachella 2023: Chromeo joins the five-timer's club, brings out La Roux
The funk duo Chromeo has become a staple at Coachella, and Saturday night's performance — their fifth time playing the festival since their debut in 2008 — had all the same electro-funk magic they're known for, with a special guest thrown in.
Being in the five-timer's club, Chromeo, which consists of Montreal-born artists David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel, performs with such confidence and charisma that there seems to never be a misstep. How those two guys, with no backing band and just techno wizardry, produce such a fully developed, rich sound is beyond me.
This was my third time seeing them at Coachella and I've walked away every time happier than I was before they started playing. That's really the hallmark of Chromeo to me. Uber-talented musicians, of course, but really they are about bringing the joy as much as the jams. They did that again Saturday night.
After dazzling the crowd with a string of their dance-driven hits "Night By Night," "Come Alive" and "Bonafied Lovin,'" they brought out golden-voiced singer La Roux.
La Roux and Chromeo collaborated on a song called "Replacements" which will appear on Chromeo's next album. Of course, they couldn't let her go without having her play her megahit, "Bulletproof," which had the crowd going so crazy it almost blew the chandeliers off the Gobi Tent. (Side note for non-attendees: Yes, the Gobi tent has a bunch of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.)
When La Roux walked off, Chromeo finished the night with their biggest hit "Jealous" another crowd-pleasing banger.
It all took place in their space-capsule-looking stage set made of chrome as they played chrome guitars and chrome synthesizers. When lights are trained on the guitar it shoots shafts of light back into the crowd — one of the many small cool, enjoyable things Chromeo has developed over the years.
For me and for those in my immediate area, it was simply 50 minutes of dancing, singing and smiling. I can't speak for them, but I'm already looking forward to their sixth Coachella appearance, whenever that may be.
Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: Chromeo plays fest for 5th time, with guest La Roux
