Chromeo the self-proclaimed "only successful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time" expertly stoked the seasonal festivities at the Empire. Backed by an enormous, sparkling tree and a neon sign, the Canadian electro-funk duo kept the crowd boogieing all night with their shamelessly sleazy synth pop.
Though tunes like 'Bonafied Lovin' have lyrics which even Prince might wince at, childhood friends Dave and P-Thugg seem to have their tongues wedged firmly in their cheeks. As glittery confetti flurried down like snow the gig became a perfect feel-good fusion of sing-a-long and eighties New York disco. In bushy beard and Santa-hat P-Thugg merrily kept up the keyboards and synth while Dave strutted round the stage in sunglasses, singing and playing his electric guitar with an exaggerated stadium-filling flourish worthy of Bon Jovi or Guns 'n' Roses.
After performing their own numbers the duo kept the crowd bopping with a DJ set, accompanied by their brilliant intro-act, the Parisian DJ Mehdi. The Ed-Banger electro-hiphop dj laid out a perfect string of funky classics and current mind-poppers, as if he'd found the party favourites playlist on our iPod and pressed boom. One of those acts whose appeal suddenly balloons in a live setting, Chromeo provided the ultimate shindig to celebrate the season of goodwill.
By Amy Dawson
