The sold-out spectacle of What So Not, Four Tet, Jamie XX and Chromeo was every bit of the party on the Rocks we’d anticipated, and we’ve already got our eyes set on next year’s! The lively diversity of 2016’s Funk On the Rocks brought a new energy to this installment, and having such a variety of music lovers together was a beautiful thing. What So Not had the crowd bouncing early for an epic entry, blasting trap-heavy remixes and originals as attendees shuffled in. Albeit it wasn’t quite what we were expecting on the bill, the unique curation of the night really complimented each artist.
Up next, House legend Four Tet took over the ranks with his smooth and up-tempo productions, a perfect refresher after the rowdy set from What So Not. By now we were settling into the (surprisingly) warm breeze, and the night was officially upon us. Crowd favorite Jamie XX started out strong with sensual club grooves and a scintillating light show, transforming each of the rows into individual dance parties. The vibes were high and I think everyone would agree, the show had already sealed the deal in being the best of the year so far, and we still had Chromeo to look forward to! Between the breaking down of Jamie XX and setting up for Chromeo’s massive set up, we had a good amount of time to refresh on drinks and mingle in the rows.
Making with their promise for this Funk on the Rocks to be one of epic proportions, Chromeo were backed by a live horn band, only adding to the explosiveness of their performance. The Dap-Kings came in full force, giving us a solid, brassy background while the duo poured out their signature disco-fueled synthy beats. From start to finish, the funk lordz gave us a rocking set that pleased new fans and die-hards alike – after ten years of reviving those clean 80s vibes, no one does it quite like these guys. A highlight for me was their re-do of ‘Tenderoni’, one of the initial tracks I’d heard that put them on my radar to begin with. The love Colorado has for Chromeo has always been strong, and it’s safe to say they’ve got us hooked for life.
