Red Bull 30 Days in LA - Day 6: The Suffers, Cakes Da Killa and Chromeo Live at Mack Sennett Studios, Los Angeles

Rachel Zimmerman November 8th, 2015 - 6:00 PM

Friday night, Day 6 of the Red Bull Sound Selects 30 Days in LA musical adventure called Mack Sennett Studios home. This studio space is quite the maze. Upon entering, they provided loads of swag from free food and cocktails to free sunglasses and of course plenty of photo opps. The sold out show promised a heavy bill as well featuring Pearl Charles, The Suffers, Cakes Da Killa and Chromeo. These eclectic lineup choices kept the crowd guessing until Chromeo came on and delivered exactly what was expected.

The large main room is home to the big stage. A light crowd fills out the broad space as The Suffers begin to play. Their funky soulful music translates well. Most songs stay true to typical soul standards, revolving around love-based themes. Singer Kam Franklin announces that she loves everyone and she hopes they all love each other. Her sassy and sweet demeanor is no comparison for the reckoning that her raspy deep voice brings. Think a hybrid of Jennifer Hudson and Alabama Shakes’s Brittany Howard. They play a new song called “Do Whatever” which they had only written two days prior. The bold move to give the audience something new proves successful.

Misha Vladimirskiy / Red Bull Content Pool

Next up, the audacious rapper Cakes Da Killa changes the pace. This New Jersey native’s brash humor stuns from the start when he nicknames everyone “bitch” and calls out the crowd periodically to get moving. At one point, he yells that he did not sit in the middle (of an airplane row) for six hours to play a show where no one moves. The audience listens, laughs and participates willingly. The fast talker doesn’t stop there, serving up more attitude and more fast beats. Cakes asserts that he wants people to sweat – not a lofty goal considering how enticing his performance is. Bass lines are so heavy the floor rumbles, almost forcing people to dance. His one-liners create even more of an uproar. “You ever feel so drunk you feel like you’re in heaven? That’s how I feel right now.” Ending his set with another surprise, he jumps into the general pit and raps his last song amongst the fans.

Marv Watson / Red Bull Content Pool

Nothing new to report on the Chromeo front. Their name and fun can typically be deemed kindred terms. The self-dubbed funklords, singer Dave 1 and copilot P-Thugg, have mastered the art of funky disco dance hits. Their live shows are known for inciting epic dance parties. Friday night’s shenanigans stay true to the course as their first song “Night by Night” instantly bursts the crowd into a dancing frenzy. They play a healthy helping of tunes from last year’s album White Women. The rest of the set is more history repeating itself. Dave 1 plays his solos with his mirrored guitar center stage so the spotlights beam off it like a disco ball shining all over the room; fans sing along to every hit. By the end of the night, they make everyone two-step to their final song “Fall Back 2 U,” – all things we have seen from them before. All in all, the set reads enjoyable, yet underwhelming in the sense that the same old routine leaves a lingering air of desire for something new to come into the mix.

Misha Vladimirskiy / Red Bull Content Pool

Chromeo Setlist

Intro (Chromeo Oh-oh)
Night by Night
Hot Mess
Somethinggood
Tenderoni
Come Alive
Bonafied Lovin
Sexy Socialite
Over Your Shoulder
Old 45s
Fancy Footwork
Jealous (I Ain’t with It)
Fall Back 2 U

More photos from the night

The Suffers