WHO THE FUCK IS CHIP CHROME?

Chip Chrome at The Hollywood Bowl, LA by Jacob Alvarez

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAY HOMETOWN SHOW IN FRONT OF LARGEST AUDIENCE TO DATE

In 2013, I was actively trying to go to shows since I was introduced to concerts one year earlier. I’d listen to LA radio shows like Alt 98.7 and KROQ to see what events were coming through and it was on the former station that I first heard this track called “Sweater Weather” by a band called The Neighbourhood with the “u.” 98.7 was pushing them via their “Next Week Discovery” program, and that’s when I knew I’d be seeing them as they were brought on to open for both Paul Banks of Interpol at the Fonda and then Metric at the Fox Theater in Pomona just a few days later. They played “Afraid” and “Female Robbery” before they had any traction, so I felt somewhat cool. The following week, I told my friends that they should be on the lookout for this band because “Sweater Weather” was going to take off. Of course I was right, but I didn’t know just how big they would become.

Tonight, they play to a sold out crowd at the historic Hollywood Bowl, their biggest solo show to date. I was in between the band all these years, being a fan of their first LP, but not really vining with the rest. That changed when singer Jesse Rutherford began this character of Chip Chrome. A silver, lonely cowboy searching for meaning in this town that’s full of people, yet it can be just as isolating. I was intrigued. Songs like “Cherry Flavoured” and “Lost In Translation” were in my heavy rotation for months. Needless to say, I was interested in seeing how these songs would translate to live performance.

Paige and I rushed to get to the venue to start, because LA traffic is always hellbent on keeping your opportunities at arms length. Luckily we made it with 20 minutes to spare, so I was escorted to the front of house next to the sound booth where I would be shooting. Field Medic was finishing up a few mellow tracks and the audience was there for it. The bowl was completely filled with iPhone flashes lighting up the sky. The stage was quickly cleaned up and then the lights went off.

Hundreds of female screams could be heard as the band took to the stage. A string quartet was also brought on, playing the intro to generate hype as someone pushed a big trashcan to the front of the stage. As soon as the intro ended, Chip Chrome himself emerged from the can, tossing the lid and beginning his set which was exclusively Chip Chrome and the Monotones. Dressed as a cowboy with a saddle hat and clown paint, Chrome played through “Cherry Flavoured” and immediately followed into “Lost In Translation” with the fans singing and dancing along. After about ten tracks, the band left the stage while the strings took over once more.

The band returned in normal attire with Chrome following last, now as Rutherford. This was now a Neighbourhood set, staring off strong with “Sweater Weather” and going into cuts off Wiped Out!. There were also lots of theatrics which included flames, smoke being shot out, an LED board that spelled out “Chip” once their first set ended, and Rutherford used a microphone attached to a rope to swing back and forth to end the set. He also stated multiple times during the set how shocked he was and grateful that fans showed up after the pandemic. It was their first LA show since 2019 and they brought it as much as the fans turned out.

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!