I've got no idea what anyone is saying but I can tell from the smiles on their faces I don't need to. My head is filled with thumping bass. The vibrations from the beat and hundreds of dancing feet move through my body like a 6 hour earth tremor. Girls are raiding the bathroom for paper towels to wipe sweat from their faces and bodies, guys are losing it on the dancefloor.
Although we don't have sand underfoot or an ocean breeze to keep us cool, the 7Whatevers boys have decorated the Backroom like an outdoor party. Laser-lit smoke machines chuff onstage. The DJ booth is centre-stage and framed by white fabric. Images of Buddha, asian goddesses and exotic patterns are projected onto the fabric and the walls beside the bar - although the music is far from the trance-like hippie psychadelica one might associate with such images.
I can only describe the music as euphoric. The beats seem to say wait for it... wait for it... NOW! At which moment the tension releases to cheers from the crowd. High, electronic harmonies break through the basslines like rays of light streaming through thunderclouds. I hear samples of classic lyrics like the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams and love that music I heard first as a kid, then as a teenager (Marilyn Manson), still works today. The DJs don't just sit back and let the cd play, they bounce around the deck flipping switches and turning knobs, throwing in samples and beats that mix smoothly into powerful Acid Disco and House.
I've never been much of a fan of electronic dance music, but 7Whatevers now have me sold on it. This was an awesome night. If you were unfortunate enough to have missed it, don't let it happen again.
DJ Roll Call:
Daniel Webber (La La Land, 7whatevers)
Captain Kaine (Beach Hotel, Liquid, La La Land)
Slinky (Byron Bay/U.K)
Deegs (7whatevers/La La Land)
Ryan Rushton (La La)
Chris Lawrence (Melbs/Metro, Goldy/Platinum)
Reece Llewellyn (Elsewhere)
LT-80 (Flux up)
Stretch (La La)
Sammy Owens (La La)
Discrow (Goldy/S&R Bar/Titanium)
Clegs (Flux up)
Reeso (R.A.A.F)
Sweat pours off Jackson Jackson frontman Harry James Angus as he stands centrestage like a zealous preacher - head bowed, arm outstretched, captivating the masses with drama and prose. The entire Melbourne-based seasonal population of Byron Bay have crammed into the Beach Hotel for this very special gig. Locals who have never heard of Jackson Jackson are converted after a moment's confusion.
And they are all losing it.
Apart from a prior commitment photographing bikini shots at La La Land, Jackson Jackson had me buzzing from soundcheck to when the ugly lights come on. Dear God... the hooded female vocalists, their sheer vocal power, the tension, the release, the exquisite rarity of genre-defying performance... it's almost too much to handle. I can safely say, you have never seen anything like Jackson Jackson (and if I'm wrong about that, I'd really like to know).
The Sunshine Brothers have done a great job of warming the crowd up for Morcheeba. Unfortunately, I walk in to hear their last song. Judging from the happy faces in the crowd, I have missed a good performance.
When Morcheeba come onstage the crowd's anticipation has a physical presence like a layer of sweat on your skin. Could have something to do with the busted aircon, or roughly 500 people about to get something they really want.
Lead singer Manda is not what they want. People seem unaware Morcheeba have changed vocalists, despite original singer Skye Edwards leaving in 2003. Manda is the latest in a line of guest vocalists, and she has high expectations to meet. She is French. She is beautiful, talented, and says cute things like "Do you fancy to dance?" Her voice is lower than Skye Edward's. Which means some older songs, like "The Sea", lose that mix of bass with soft vocal high notes and sound uneventful in comparison. "Blindfold" is still one helluva sexy sound. It's enough to get me out of the cool quiet anteroom where I was having a nanna break and wedge myself firmly onto the dancefloor. The new songs suit Manda's voice perfectly. They've even got one sung in French (Au De La) which is minimal: Manda sings, accompanied by Ross Godfrey on guitar. I'm a sucker for French songs and this soft, sweet tune does not disappoint. Brothers Ross and (DJ) Paul Godfrey are the driving force behind Morcheeba, and I hope they hold on to Manda for a long while to come.
Here is the set list:
Moog Island
Otherwise
Trigger Hippy
Never an Easy Way
The Sea
Enjoy The Ride
Run Honey Run
Part of the Process
Gained the World
Sleep on it Tonight
Let me see
Blindfold
And the encore:
Au de la
Over and Over
Be Yourself
Rome
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