MONTREAL - Montreal’s favourite chrome Romeos offer a tasty treat to Montrealers Saturday, as the electro-funk duo play a massive free Jazzfest closing show on the big stage near Jeanne Mance and Ste. Catherine Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
Tens of thousands of fans traditionally stand cheek-to-jowl to see the big outdoor show and this year's headliner is considered a catch.
Chromeo, now based in New York City, formed here in 2004 and consist of P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) and Dave 1 (David Macklovitch), who jokingly describe themselves "the only successful Arab-Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture."
“It’s not a cerebral show, there's no wailing trumpet solos, not that there's anything wrong with that,” singer-guitarist Dave 1 told CTV Montreal. “For us they're pop songs, they're dancey songs and we just want people to have a good time.”
The band hit the big time after signing with fellow Montreal ex-pats Vice Records and quickly drew praise from many publications including The New York Times.
“It's kind of sinking in now we're closing the Jazzfest. I mean that's pretty big, so that's kind of an indicator. But we don't' think about that. We just think about putting on the best show possible," said P-Thugg, who plays keys in the duo.
The band has being playing sold-out shows around the world and crowds have further swelled since the success of their 2010 effort Business Casual. But being at home with family brings them back down to earth.
“My dad is a big kvetcher and he has to be in bed by ten p.m.” said Dave 1. “So I think he's going to make the yearly exception. He hates crowds so he's going to complain the whole time, stay until the end which is going to be funny. My mom is ready though, she can't wait.”
