Live Review: Client Liaison – Fat Controller, Adelaide (10.06.16)

I’m rarely totally surprised at club shows these days. Sometimes there’ll be a moment or two that’ll take me off-guard, but not often. But then, then, there are moments that will have me looking around and noticing everyone else around me is having the same, ‘Is this actually happening?’ point of recognition.

Cue Monte Morgan emerging from the Fat Controller’s green room dressed in a fabulous bolero, armed with a didgeridoo. “Shout out to the owners of the land,” he begins before he and Harvey Miller kick off Client Liaison‘s Friday night encore with “Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight”. It’s a moment where the ultra-sharp pop music that has had the sweaty Fat Controller audience whipped up into a frenzy bathed in purple and yellow lights takes another swerve and we’re all thrown directly into the path of Client Liaison’s relentlessly energetic live performance delivery.

Rewinding things back to earlier in the night, I arrived at the underground CBD venue to catch the last few songs of GL‘s set. Since seeing the Melbourne duo quite a while ago, I’ve been stoked to see how their profile has expanded and risen with the release of some cleverly formulated music. Ella Thompson is without a doubt, one of my favourite Australian vocalists, and through this project, she’s really been able to shine. Her duet with Client Liaison during the main headline set on “Foreign Affair” was just another example of the confidence and talent she exudes with effortless flair.

When it comes to Client Liaison, I’ve only really been able to see them perform a scattered amount of times; their set at Oakbank’s Groovin’ the Moo earlier this year was the first time I was able to see them play for more than 10 minutes. Frustratingly, they’re an act who has that ability to draw you in and keep you hungry for more new music (2014’s self-titled EP is great but come onnnnn, we want more!). Their homage to neon-illuminated and pastel-soaked 80’s disco-pop has been elevated from being more than a throwback – the music Client Liaison write is fresh, ridiculously groovy and is an injection of pop music I’ve been so glad to see the Australian music scene be jabbed with.

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The band wastes no time in generating heat onstage; Morgan struts back and forth, hips gyrating dangerously close to the crowd barrier before slinking away as he sinks into each groove Tom Tilley doles out to his right on bass. Up on a riser behind, Harvey cuts a fine figure on electronic drum pads, framed by fake plants and microphone headset perfectly positioned atop his blonde mane. Miller’s brother Geordie brought some insatiable guitar work to the Morgan’s left, engaging in some great duo work with Tilley as the set really ramped up. It’s established early on that this show was all about losing your inhibitions and going where the rhythms would beckon you to follow – it was a call to groove that was heeded hungrily by the crowd.

Aside from one incident in the middle of the crowd that called for security to get involved, the headline set was full of love and good vibes. The band looked to be enjoying it as much as the crowd and seeing as it was Client Liaison’s final show on the tour, it seemed like this was one they were having particular fun with.

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On record, the higher end of Morgan’s vocal range is a highlight of the EP’s production. Live, I don’t think you’re ever going to reach that same level of execution, but credit to him – with each leg kick and drop to the ground, Morgan threw everything into his vocal performance and the crowd loved him even more for it.

Stood slightly off to stage right in a little nook between the band and the front row, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a large amount of bros clamoured around, hollering out for the bass player as they were for Tilley. Obviously drawing in a large triple j crowd, there were constant yells of ‘Hack is fucking awesome!’, ‘Tom FUCKING Tilley!’ and the like right throughout the set, followed by looks of pure elation each time he would dance his way to the front row. Returning to the stage during the encore having lost his camel-coloured jacket in favour of an unbuttoned patterned shirt, Tilley no doubt won over plenty of new fans during show, going off the cheers aimed his way before the set’s end.

Returning to the encore, Client Liaison took the Adelaide crowd through to midnight with “Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight” seamlessly working in a cover of Michael Jackson‘s “Black Or White” and their own beat-heavy “End of the Earth” before bidding fans a final farewell.

A brilliant return to South Australia from a band that keeps on going from strength to strength. Just put some new music out, please, we’re so ready.

 

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