Photos by Daniel Ashwood ; Written by Daniel Ashwood
On October 3rd 2024, The Midnight showcased their signature synthwave sound at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., as part of a co-headlining tour with Chromeo. The evening kicked off with Girl Ultra, who delivered a soulful blend of synth-infused R&B. She really got the crowd excited and set the stage for the main acts.
The Midnight was met with an enthusiastic response from the audience as they took the stage. They opened with “Days of Thunder” followed by “Shadows” and “Good in Red”, which really got the crowd excited for this set. Although founding member Tim McEwan was absent, his lack of presence didn’t diminish the band’s energy. Drummer Kwesi “Ayokwe” Robinson seamlessly integrated into the lineup. Frontman Tyler Lyle delivered an excellent performance as he met the audience with his powerful vocals. Lelia Broussard, handling backing vocals, bass, and guitar, was equally impressive. Royce Whittaker, on keys and guitar, also shined, adding depth to the band’s rich sound. All four performers really worked the stage together and kept the crowd engaged during the whole show. Multiple times during the show, Tyler and Lelia went down in the pit to keep the crowd hyped, and give some high fives.
Now on to saxophonist Justin Klunk, who always steals the show. Justin really brought it all during this show, especially during his surprise venture into the audience for the fan-favorite “Jason.” His sax solos got everyone dancing and cheering, with many joining in on inflatable instruments, which were available at the merch table.
They continued with some of the crowd favorites, including “Change Your Heart or Die”, “Heartbeat”, “Gloria”, “Shadows” and a new song, “Chariot,” inspired by their newly released graphic novel, The Midnight: Shadows. They closed out their set with arguably their most popular songs, “Sunset”, “Vampires” and “Los Angeles”. I saw The Midnight last year at this same venue and although this performance was shorter than their last headlining tour, The Midnight curated a perfect set for this tour with Chromeo. I was eager to see Chromeo perform next since I had not seen them before tonight.
Chromeo took the stage in “dazzling” fashion. Chromeo opened up with one of their most popular songs, “Fancy Footwork”. This was followed by other hits such as, “Hot Mess”, “BTS” and “Jealous”. Although I was not as familiar with Chromeo, their performance was amazing. Their performance, brimming with talkbox vocals, catchy basslines, and nostalgic synths, created an enjoyable atmosphere.
While stylistically distinct from The Midnight, the collaboration proved to be a perfect match, as Chromeo’s lively, party-centric vibe offered a playful contrast to The Midnight’s more reflective synthwave sound. Both bands infused the night with their own unique energy, ensuring a memorable experience for fans of both styles.
Check out the rest of The Midnight and Chromeo this fall during their Chrome Nights tour!
