Chrome Nights Hits DC with The Midnight and Chromeo Co-headlining Tour

Review and photos by Nate Follmer

Edited by Morgan Kohler

It’s been almost a year to the day since The Midnight brought their fall tour to The Anthem in DC. This tour was a co-headlining show with The Midnight and Chromeo, bringing along Girl Ultra for support. Could last year’s synthwave party in the nation’s capital be topped?

Girl Ultra kicked off the night, immediately setting the tone with her sultry voice and infectious energy. The singer-songwriter, known for her blend of R&B and pop, captivated the audience with just her voice, her guitar and a drummer. Her set was proof that you don’t need to bring a huge production to keep a crowd entertained. Girl Ultra’s set was a perfect appetizer, enticing the crowd for what was to come.

Next up, The Midnight took the stage, bringing their nostalgic synthwave sound to life. In the studio, The Midnight was originally made up of just Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan, but the band has expanded over the years to include live multi-instrumentalists Royce Whittaker and Lelia Broussard, Saxophonist Justin Klunk and for this tour, Percussionist Kwesi Robinson. You’ll notice the obvious absence of Tim. I thought this was well known at this point, but I still see it questioned online. Tim is still part of The Midnight. He has taken a step back from touring due to health issues and also to focus on producing more music.

The thing I love about watching The Midnight live is seeing the fun they have on stage. You’d think every band would enjoy being on stage and I’m sure most do, but you can feel the fun energy filling the room as the night progresses. You almost feel like you’re part of the band. The crowd interaction is unmatched. Justin even plays an entire song while in the crowd.

Although this tour’s set was shorter due to co-headlining with Chromeo, it still felt complete. There was less downtime between songs, with each tracking going back-to-back. Also, SURPRISE! Tim showed up for the last few minutes of “Sunset.”

Finally, Chromeo took the stage, igniting the crowd with their funky vibes and playful charisma. The duo’s signature blend of electro-funk and R&B had everyone on their feet, even the people in the seats. With hits like “Fancy Footwork” and “Jealous (I Ain’t With It),” Chromeo’s set was just plain fun. This was my first time seeing Chromeo live and I will definitely be coming back for more shows. There’s so much chrome on stage and everything shines. The stage and production is simple, but exhilarating. Again, another set that proves you don’t need a huge production to put on a good show.