So...I found myself at the Highline Ballroom in New York for the first Hot Chip show of 2008, and the first to officially showcase the songs from their brilliant new album "Made in the Dark". I've been in love with these guys ever since I heard their song "Playboy" from their first album "Coming On Strong". They really brought it to the Highline, and I, along with the crowd of the lucky 600 or so people who had tickets to the sold-out gig, left convinced that they were a force to be reckoned with when it comes to their live shows.
Baltimore DJ's Devlin and Darko (from Spank Rock) opened the show, getting the audience of mostly hipsters and the like, adequately prepared for the Chip.
I've got a special place in my ears (and heart!) for Spank Rock, and I really got into their DJ set, I've seen them play several times before, and I knew what to be prepared for, but they really switched it up with obscure disco gems, some Baltimore booty bass (I heard a ridiculous mix of Rye Rye's "Shake It To The Ground" that had me BEGGING for the 12" to come out!), and some favorites of mine (The Juan Maclean's "Happy House" and Holy Ghost!'s "Hold On", for starters). I was in love with this show before the headliners hit the stage, and that was a really good sign!
By the time the DJ's finished, I was already worked up for the new material to hit the stage. I'd heard some of the songs before at their show last April at the 9:30 Club, but that was then, and the anticipation was killing me! They opened with the uber-percussive, jungle boogie of "Shake A Fist", setting the crowd off like firecrackers, following up with a beat-heavy interpretation of "Boy From School" from their last album "The Warning", which took the energy level that much higher. The setlist was packed tight and was full of goodies from the past and present. A lot of the new songs took on a really interesting turn when they were performed live, "Made in the Dark" was transformed from a softer, folky ballad into a feedback-filled burst of electricity as it opened the encores, but "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" stole the show for me, turning into a song that Justin Timberlake wishes he could write, and really utilizing the energy that they have onstage. It just seems that where the album version is very dirge-like with the organ, the live version just POPS. It wins the award for best improvement from the studio to the stage.
They really should release a live album for this tour, as it's not only the best I've seen them, but the audience seemed to be feeding directly off of their energy, as the entire room was up in a tizzy for the duration of the first 3 songs. Although Felix was sick for the show, forcing them to postpone their planned LA show on February 5th, they seemed in good spirits, even though they had to scrap two songs from the setlist (which I'm sure will re-emerge on their setlists on their upcoming US and European tours.) This was one of the best shows I've seen energy-wise, and I can't wait for their return to the 'States in April.
Setlist:
Shake A Fist
Boy From School
Hold On
Wrestlers
Touch Too Much
Over and Over
We're Looking For A Lot of Love
Out at the Pictures
Bendable Poseable
Ready for the Floor
Don't Dance *
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Made In the Dark
One Pure Thought *
No Fit State
* - on the official setlist for the evening, but not performed.
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Here's their MySpace for those who want to check them out further, and I've uploaded five songs of theirs that I've been digging some kind of hard. PLEASE pick up their album [Amazon] if you're feeling their sound. I'd get the special edition, which has the live DVD attached with five songs done at various venues and festivals last year. Just pick it up and thank me later!
"Hold On" (from Made In the Dark) [zShare]
"Out at the Pictures" (from Made in the Dark) [zShare]
"Bubbles They Bounce" (from the Ready For The Floor single) [zShare]
"The Warning" (from The Warning) [zShare]
"Just Like We [Breakdown] (DFA Mix)" (from the Over and Over single) [zShare]
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