On a typically busy night in Melbourne, an eclectic mix of punters trekked to the Hi-Fi Bar to see the duo that have become a household name in Australian music, The Presets.
Beni was the first of the support acts, possessing a laid-back style on the decks that helped to warm the crowd up. The DJ played a great selection of soulful remixes of hits from days gone by and the modern, particularly with Disclosure’s ‘F For You’.
Wordlife’s dancing behind the turntable was as impressive as the tunes they churned out. The Sydney duo fused urban vocals with futuristic and bass heavy beats, enough to get everyone moving their feet in anticipation of the headline act.
The dim lighting was cue for The Presets, who made their way onto the stage to rapturous applause. The crowd members were treated to an impressive light show as they opened with ‘Push’ – an apt choice that created a frenetic atmosphere from the get-go. The skeptical response to the duo’s direction into a more euphoric sound with latest release Pacifica was dispelled when ‘Fall’ came on, with the dance floor evolving into a frenzy of flailing limbs.
As everyone had a chance for an early breather, ‘If I Know You’ was unleashed on the Hi-Fi crowd. Rather than using their original for the backing track, the duo opted for the remix by Tom Middleton, giving their sound enhanced versatility – a choice that seemed to go down well with the fans on the floor, and even the upstairs VIPs who usually take a more restrained approach.
Julian Hamilton seemed to genuinely enjoy ‘Promises’ after a subdued opening from the frontman, followed up by ‘Ghosts’. It’s not exactly a perfect song for the high-energy gigs that The Presets have become accustomed to, but the track was backed with a drum and bass flavour, which took away from his glistening vocals.
‘This Boy’s In Love’ was up next, and after a remixed intro backed by the expert work on the drums by Kim Moyes, the original came blasting through the speakers – sending the crowd absolutely bonkers. Hamilton’s work on the keyboard whilst managing to sing and interact with the crowd was particularly impressive.
As he strutted along the edge of stage, the artist’s bellowing vocals proclaimed, “It feels so good” before the duo waved goodbye, only to return moments later with ‘Goodbye Future’ and ‘Are You The One’ to a crazed crowd.
Moyes and Hamilton gave the punters no time for rest as they cut into ‘Fast Seconds’ followed by ‘Kicking And Screaming’.
The night’s festivities ended in quite a dark manner, and to the liking of a particular writer in attendance. The Presets’ second encore included ‘Surrender’ and the perennially underrated, ‘Anywhere’. The frontman’s stature grew and the finale was one to remember, with punters looking mesmerised by his every move. Overawed by the ovation the duo had received, Hamilton stood silently with mic in hand before he found the words to say, “Now I know what it feels like to be a footballer in the middle of the ground. Thank you, Melbourne.”
