Miami Beach Grooves With the Pinker Tones

Photo by Luis Olazabal
http://www.luisolazabal.com/

The Pinker Tones closed the Rhythm Foundation's Transatlantic Music Fest with style Saturday night at the North Beach Bandshell, giving fans a taste of what to expect from them come this summer's Vans Warped tour. The musically mischievous boys from Barcelona will play extended sets in the Skull Candy electronic tent in support of their latest release, Wild Animals (Nacional Records), in 43 cities across the U.S. In Miami an eclectic mix of cool kids, middle-aged fans, and even some seniors got their groove on under the night sky, a stone's throw away from the ocean, as Professor Manso, Mister Furia, and their trusty collaborator DJ Niño (known as the third pinkertone) funneled their irresistible sonic hodgepodge into the vortex of the moment. Looking like they'd just landed from an intergalactic voyage, the three DJs took to the blue-lit stage dressed in metallic silver jackets and dark shades. The effect was very cool as the crew proceeded to maneuver behind the decks opening the set with "Hold On," the first track from Wild Animals. By the time they segued into a remix of "S.E.X.Y.R.O.B.O.T.," another track off the new album, DJ Niño peeled off his, Mister Furia and Professor Manso's jacket, feeling Miami's punishing heat, but also as a silly, tongue-in-cheek striptease that revealed their matching ensembles - black, long-sleeve shirts and thin, platinum ties - as well as their loopy sense of humor. DJ Niño, sandwiched by Manso and Furia, was a ball of energy and really kept the momentum going with his onstage antics. He would play air guitar to sampled power chords, toss his headphones up in the air, and go crazy on the mixer. Meanwhile Manso rocked-out on the computer drum and Furia looked dapper, hunched over the knobs and switches of his analog synth. Overhead, a large screen flashed images of highways, go-go dancers, Marilyn Monroe, and primitive iconography. Midway through the set the trio plunged into the retro-soul tinged "Love Tape." From The Million Colour Revolution disc, the ultimate ode to the homemade mixedtape was appropriately infused that night with a samba beat and the exotic sound of the cuíca. Samples of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and "Mustang Sally" were brilliantly spliced and woven throughout, near the final stretch of the show, before climaxing with the quirky, electro-pop confection of "Sonido Total." At that point it seemed like everybody was infected with the Pinker Tones' wave of euphoria; their good vibes slicing right through the thick of Miami's stagnant air.