Hot Chip, w/ Slow Magic at First Avenue, Minneapolis (30 May 2015)

poster Hot Chip Setlist Huarache Lights One Life Stand Night & Day Easy to Get Started Right Flutes Over and Over Alley Cats Cry for You Need You Now Ready for the Floor I Feel Better -- Encore -- Made in the Dark Let Me Be Him Why Make Sense? Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover) Tour Dates 05/31 Milwaukee, WI, Turner Hall Ballroom 06/02 Detroit, MI, Majestic Theatre 06/03 Toronto, ON, Danforth Music Hall 06/04 Boston, MA, House of Blues 06/05 Washington, DC, Echostage 06/07 New York, NY, Governors Ball 07/31 Chicago, IL, Lollapalooza 08/02 Quebec, Osheaga Festival 08/07 BC, Squamish Valley Music Festival 08/09 San Francisco, CA, Outside Land 08/11 Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre Read More Hot Chip Hot Chip is back with a new album called Why Make Sense? featuring acclaimed singles "Huarache Lights" and "Need You Now". ... Slow Magic The first time I saw Slow Magic, they were second of three bands/DJs over at the Triple Rock Social Club, last year. I wrote that the DJ had a custom fox mask ...

London's Hot Chip is currently touring the US in support of their latest Why Make Sense?, stopping by First Avenue in Minneapolis last night. The show was sold out, despite the fact that many fans were over at the Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty show at Hall's Island.

Chatham Rise

Opening up the show was Slow Magic. After randomly catching this electronic / tribal / dance / DJ act in 2013, I was excited to see them on the bill. Of course, I knew what to expect: pulse-pounding double floor tom drums and that distinctive color-changing custom fox mask he wears. Like Daft Punk, Slow Magic does not want you to know what he looks like without his mask.

Slow Magic played a lot of songs from his latest How to Run Away, including "Waited 4 U". Midway into his set, he took one of the tom into the crowd, which despite an incredibly packed dancefloor, the audience made room.

Although the mask is visually really cool, I'm sure he has some regrets about it. First of all, it probably gets hot under the mask (which covers his entire head) and especially because he's constantly dancing and moving and sweating. Midway in his set, he stepped back, turned his back from the audience and drank a full bottle of water. Secondly, he has trouble seeing objects, and often stares intently at his Apple Mac Book to queue up the next song, etc. It may be worth it all in the end to produce a very memorable impression on the audience.

Hot Chip

What can I say about Hot Chip? They continue to amaze me with their music. Their sixth album Why Make Sense? (which came out May 18th via Domino Recording) is probably their best album to date. We got to hear it live on their hour plus set, included "Huarache Lights", "Easy To Get", "Started Right", "Cry For You", "Need You Now", and "Why Make Sense?"

Singer Alexis Taylor came on stage with a polka dotted lab coat. Looking over various photos, Taylor is always wearing crazy outfits, he must really love expressing minimalistic art designs through his fashion.

Setlist

Normally when I see bands playing new material, the majority of the fans aren't familiar or had a chance to listen to them ... so they were experiencing the songs for the first time. Sometime it doesn't go over well, however judging from the positive loud responses to new songs like "Need You Now", I can tell the fans have gotten a hold of the new record and craving to hear it live.

The encore was a four song epic encore, starting with "Made in the Dark" (according to their grainy setlist photo, the alternate song "Boy From School") and ending with their Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark".

Hot Chip's Why Make Sense? is out now on Domino. The band is on tour now.

Hot Chip at First Avenue, Minneapolis (30 May 2015)

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