#northsix

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Poster Date: 06-17-2006

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"Everybody's got a secret to hide" is the first original lyric of the Chromatics' 2012 album "Kill For Love", and for a long time Chromatics were that aforementioned secret kept by far too few electronic enthusiasts. It took a 2007 track reused for 2011's "Drive" soundtrack to really lunge the band into the deserved spotlight. On Sunday night, the four-piece played a ten song set at a sold-out show with no opener. Given the near perfect circumstances under which they performed, it would have been hard for the band to mess up. They delivered more than was expected, covering every direction of the present-day Chromatics formation and leaving even casual fans talking of "the next time" they will see the band play.

Keyboardist/producer Johnny Jewel, drummer Nat Walker, and guitarist Adam Miller started the set with the instrumental "Tick of the Clock", their 'hit' which appeared on the Ryan Gosling picture mentioned earlier. A great start, but the rest of the set showed why this had to be done first. Once vocalist/guitarist Ruth Radelet took the stage, her melancholy presence commanded the room's attention. It was partially her apparent ambivalence in receiving that attention that mysteriously made her feel warm and inviting as a stage figure. It was mostly due to her one-part softening, one-part dominant, and ultimately well-produced vocals that manage to capture everything Chromatics is about. Heavy themes delivered with dynamic shifts, each appropriate for whatever moment it is placed in. The song selection had to be vocal-heavy from this point forward and the band next packed the one-two punch of "Lady" and "Kill For Love" that had the room moving like rooms don't typically move to live performances in New York. Miller's sole vocal for the night took centerstage on "Kill for Love"'s lengthy centerpiece, "These Streets Will Never Look the Same". This track gained more momentum and loudness live than on record. "Streets" seemed somewhat improvised near its scattered finale that ended in mostly noise, recalling the early days of Chromatics before Jewel, Walker, and Radelet were in the band. The feedback immediately moved into one of the group's most put together and poppy songs, "Back from the Grave", as if to say "That is who we were, this is who we are; but we can be both things."

Remaining ever so stoic, it's almost like Radelet has to train herself to not smile. Her appreciation does not go unrecognized in spite of this; a modest "thank you" followed most songs. The Chromatics' regard for their audience extends beyond the stage as the four sold their own merch after the show at unheard of prices for a band at this level. ($10 for an LP, 2LP, or 3LP!) This is how you move records. Everybody was buying something after being wowed by the band who were now serving as salespeople to the willing crowd.