Last night’s show at the Regency Ballroom was a dance party waiting to happen. French electro-pop trio Yelle played their second Coachella this year and managed to cram a festival-sized amount of energy into that sweaty center. They’re what pop artists should be really: creative, live, and not shoving a glitter covered pseudo-badass image in your face.
Yelle just wants to dance, baby.
But first we had French Horn Rebellion. They’re a pair of Brooklyn-based brothers who can drop a crisp, disco-heavy beat like it’s nobody’s business. And yeah, they actually rock a French horn.
The two sing over feel-good tracks and have an obvious chemistry that yields a great musical flow. FHR even managed to mix in hits from the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, though there was minimal dancing going on at this point.
One fan asked, “How are people not more in to them?” I was left wondering the same thing.
Two men in matching five o’clock shadows and safari gear then marched on to stage; their drum kits beefed up with one vital element: more bass. As they pounded out a low-end rhythm, a petite creature draped in a camouflage shag carpet crept to the mic. This was no longer the Regency, this was Yelle’s Safari Disco Club.
The group is made up of singer Julie Budet and producers GrandMarnier and Tepr. Although their music is electronic, it is very “live.” GrandMarnier keeps a clean beat while Tepr lays out the keys, blips and bloops. Budet, while dancing like she’s working out with Richard Simmons, is never one to miss note, however high and nasally it may be. From a technical aspect their set was flawless.
Yelle is a confident bunch. During the first few songs the crowd wasn’t giving them enough energy, but they weren’t afraid to demand it. GrandMarnier frequently popped out from behind his kit to work up the crowd, blissfully running back when it worked. Julie would often yell out, “San Francisco, are you ready to shake your booty!” in adorably broken English that’s impossible not to coo over.
They got that energy soon after playing “Je Veux Te Voir.” Many tried to sing along in French throughout the set, and when Julie asked if we spoke French a loud “Oui!” rang out. She called us on our bluff, but that didn’t stop us, we were in love.
The front of the room was mostly filled with grinding couples, the back a dangerous maze of solo dancers flailing like the world really is ending this weekend. Even the biggest, most bearded dudes were moving like it was two a.m. at le discotheque.
The trio has been on tour since November of last year, even opening up for Katy Perry during her tour of the UK. But aside from how tight their set was, there was no telling they’ve been on the road that long. The atmosphere felt special and the energy was raw.
More importantly, they’re a pop act that isn’t selling an image. Yelle is in it for the love, and their live show gushes it.
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