Modjo in concert: Tunes fail to get fans going<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Modjo;
\nJakarta Convention Center;
\nThursday, Feb. 14, 2002<\/p>\n
If French duo Modjo were to be given an award or a label, it
\nwould be the-band-most-misidentified-as-DJs, or simply as the-
\nlads-who-sing-Lady (Hear Me Tonight).<\/p>\n
The latter is the title of a song from their self-titled debut
\nalbum, their only album so far, which was released last year.<\/p>\n
While the song has been a huge hit on dance floors all over
\nthe world, and made it into the charts in many countries
\nincluding Billboard, the group remains (almost) anonymous.<\/p>\n
\"People are not really aware of us as a band. They think we're
\na group of DJs,\" guitarist Romain Tranchart admitted here
\nrecently before performing a concert.<\/p>\n
\"It's also very funny that people are surprised that we come
\nfrom France. They think of France as fashion, period.\"<\/p>\n
The fact that their musical talents are overshadowed by the
\nresounding fame of a single song does not bother Destagnol and
\nTranchart, as they are \"music lovers, not showbusiness lovers\".<\/p>\n
\"These days, if we want to be successful, then just be a
\nboyband, dress nice and look stupid. Popularity is not our main
\ngoal. So, many people said they love our music, that's great,\"
\nTranchart said.<\/p>\n
The Modjo project appeared in 1998, when Tranchart met
\nvocalist Yann Destagnol. Tranchart was a fan of the sound coming
\nfrom the House music scene, influenced by the likes of fellow
\nFrench band Daft Punk and also DJ Sneak.<\/p>\n
Destagnol, meanwhile, is more eclectic in his tastes. He
\npreferred the sound of pop and was inspired by more classic
\nreferences such as the Beach Boys and David Bowie.<\/p>\n
And so the collaboration resulted in a mix of fresh guitar
\nsamples with catchy rhythms and simplicity, if not repetition, in
\nthe lyrics.<\/p>\n
On stage, Modjo is a full band, backed by Nicolas Bollier
\n(bass), David Lewin (keyboard) and Gregory Abitbol (drums).<\/p>\n
However, despite the major exposure of the electronic sound
\nand the success of Lady, the guys refuse to be known merely as a
\nband that plays dance music.<\/p>\n
\"We do make dance music sometimes, which is what people want
\nto listen to. But we also have R&B and other kinds of music.
\nWe've got different styles,\" Destagnol said.<\/p>\n
Still, it was Lady that catapulted them to popularity, and the
\nreason most of the audience came to see their concert last week.
\nAnd it was the disco beats of the song that attracted clubbers in
\nthis country to come, hoping that other numbers would be as
\ndance-friendly.<\/p>\n
A hope that was, unfortunately, dashed in Modjo's concert,
\nwhich was aimed at livening up an event called Valentine Hype
\nParty.<\/p>\n
The spacious Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) was apparently
\ntoo big for the party, as only some 500 people showed up at the
\n5,000-capacity venue.<\/p>\n
Most of the audience were teenagers and young adults, infused
\nwith some Valentine's spirit and obviously ready to move their
\nbodies.<\/p>\n
That was until Destagnol, Tranchart and friends came up on
\nstage, performing all of the tracks, a total of 11 songs, from
\ntheir album.<\/p>\n
Apparently, Modjo is more Jamiroquai than Fatboy Slim, more
\nacid jazz than House music and more about laid-back tunes than
\nupbeat disco sounds.<\/p>\n
The concert started with Acknowledgement, an instrumental
\nnumber with Destagnol on keyboards, chanting and humming
\nthroughout the song, which is kind of too slow for an opening
\ntrack. It was followed by a number that was Jamiroquai-esque,
\nwhere Destagnol played acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n
\"The next song is a special version for this special day.
\nSelamat Hari Valentine untuk yang sedang jatuh cinta (Happy
\nValentine's Day for those who are in love),\" Destagnol said,
\nbefore playing the flute.<\/p>\n
Next up was an acoustic version of Lady. The audience, who
\nwere primed to shake their bonbons, had to hold back yet again.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere heated up a bit with the performance of another
\ndance floor hit called Chillin' as well as No More Tears and
\nRollercoaster, two songs with the combination of stylish beats
\nand rhythmic guitars.<\/p>\n
\"Cewek Indonesia cantik-cantik (Indonesian girls are pretty),\"
\nsaid Destagnol, who danced all over the stage, occasionally hit
\nthe drums, dropped the cymbal and alternately played keyboards
\nand guitar.<\/p>\n
It was not until the last song that the audience got into
\ntheir dance groove as they screamed for more Lady.<\/p>\n
\"You're a delightful audience,\" Destagnol said.<\/p>\n
And so the famous song, which is actually a sample of Chic's
\nSoup for One, was heard and welcomed by the screaming audience
\nwho began dancing right away.<\/p>\n
All in all, it was not a disappointing performance. Modjo was
\nattractive, communicative and made an effort to create an
\ninteresting performance. If only it had been held in a much
\nsmaller venue, a cafe for example -- the atmosphere would have
\nbeen a lot livelier.<\/p>",
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