Is Datarock the new NKOTB?

Photo: Getty Images

My baby bro over at Out.com's StyleList skipped all the stuffy panels at CMJ in favor of a crazy, spectacle-filled set from Datarock. You didn't think I'd let him get away with having this much fun and not have to write it up for Popnography, did you? Here's Nick's report.

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I have a crazy addiction for fun electronic music. Call me crazy, a washed out raver, or a child of the '80s, but give me an old moog synthesizer or a danceable 505 beat and I'm happier than a drag queen at the MAC counter. On Thursday I hit up a CMJ concert at the Blender Theatre in Gramercy in Manhattan to catch Datarock, the Norwegian electro-rock duo that has the blogosphere and Williamsburg hipsters in giddy fits of hyperventilation. It was the most fun I've had at a concert since I had nosebleed seats for New Kids on the Block in the '80s.

Datarock followed a band called Biffy Clyro, which wasn't all that bad until the lead singer threw a diva-style hissy fit because they ran out of time for their set. All hell broke loose when theater management turned on the house lights to signal the end of their set. The singer threw two microphones from the stage at the sound booth -- and I'll be damned if the guy didn't have an arm like a quarterback because it was a pretty far shot. Fortunately, nobody in the crowd behind the sound booth was injured. So after a childish tantrum like that, the crowd needed a little fun.

Not only did the Datarock guys take the stage in head-to-toe matching red and white jogging suits and retro black sunglasses, but their music was equal parts super-danceable beats, cheesy electro synth sounds and sometimes-loungey, sometimes-rock 'n' roll vocals that is earning them comparisons to The Talking Heads. 

Don't believe me? Check out the songs "Computer Camp Love" and "Fa-Fa-Fa" -- especially if you enjoyed electroclash or Daft Punk. Plus there's always the choreographed, Jazzercise-style aerobic-dances and their ability to get the crowd jumping around like a bunch of crazed groupies.

While Datarock didn't give into the near-psychotic screams from the crowd for an encore, when the lights came up, and "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing played over the speakers, they treated the audience to a loving serenade while dancing with each other, stripping off their clothes and enjoying a sweet homoerotic way of saying "thank you."

Even if you're not a devout believer after listening to their CD, I highly recommend checking out their show. Check out their website and MySpace for videos, tour dates, and of course, music.

Previously > Mark Ronson's parade of guest stars

Comments

[the wee chip...]

hmm, a band comes 3000 miles to play a gig ...a seven song set (hardly a big set is it)...and the management through them off stage after 5....and two songs were ruined by turning on stage lights and the house music...plus simon is 5'8" and rake thin....arm like a quarterback? - arm like a junior high girl....a 'hissy fit' hardly..it was frsutration at shocking organisation!!!

if that sort of thing happened in europe the house would have came down!