By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Chemical Brothers will return to Rio de Janeiro to perform live on Sunday, November 29th at Vivo Rio in the Parque do Flamengo. Consisting of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, the British electronic music duo is currently on tour in support of their eighth studio album Born in the Echoes, their first release since Further in 2010.
The Chemical Brothers last played in Rio de Janeiro fifteen years ago and they will return to the city on Sunday thanks to the help of fans and Queremos, a Rio de Janeiro-based crowdfunding project that connects fans, bands, and venues.
Formed in 1989 by Rowlands and Simons in Manchester, England, as The Dust Brothers, the duo released, Exit Planet Dust, their debut album as The Chemical Brothers, in 1995. The album received critical acclaim and has been ranked as one of the most important releases of the decade.
The duo followed with their 1997 album Dig Your Own Hole. Also successful, the album hit number one on the UK charts. As the duo rose to fame alongside contemporaries including Daft Punk and The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers differentiated themselves in the 90s club and dance scene through their productions and popular side remixes that leaned more toward modern versions of psychedelia.
Their most recent album, Born in the Echoes, released earlier this year in July,has been called a triumphant return to the dancefloor for the duo. However, featuring collaborations with artists including St. Vincent, Beck, Q-Tip, Cate Le Bon, and Ali Love and a reinvigorated sound, the album is not a reworking of older songs and themes.
“Continually harking back to some golden age is daft,” Simons told the press while discussing the new album during an interview in June of this year. “It’s like people in the 80s wanting to make records that sound like Tommy Steele. It’s a long time ago now, isn’t it?”
While they may not be trying to recreate former sounds they are still adding them into their live performance sets. In addition to their newest works, organizers say the duo promises to perform their classic song including “Hey Boy Hey Girl,” “Get Yourself High” and “Star Guitar” during Sunday night’s show.
French expatriate in Rio, Jean Christophe Marois, who is also co-founder of The Mansion Rio and owner at Rio180º Boutique Hotel, both in Santa Teresa, explained how he was planning to go see the show. “[Just] yesterday I was looking for tickets, and ‘Galvanize’ is my favorite song ever, with the mix of oriental and electro with violins.” Adding some excitement to see a new music venue in Rio, “[I have] been to many events at the MAM (Museum of Modern Art), but Vivo Rio will be a new discovery.”
What: The Chemical Brothers
When: Sunday, November 29th. Doors open at 9PM. Show is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM.
Where: Vivo Rio, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 85 – Flamengo
Entrance: R$230 – R$300