The set started a few minutes late. Two tracks of the seven-song set list were covers. And the Revolt ArtSpace bar ran out of beer by 11 pm.
Minor niggles (the latter may be more than ‘minor’) could have gotten Chet Faker’s Friday night audience a little peeved, but the gig might as well have been in a mosquito-infested, monsoon-susceptible, alcohol-free village for what effect external factors had on the sold-out crowd.
As soon as Nick Murphy’s alter ego “Chet” moaned that surprisingly sexy first note into the mic, nothing mattered but the man and his music.
When the first minute of a set is met with total silence from the audience, you know it’s either a huge win or an awkward fail. A low, lingering whistle of appreciation from one spectator that punctuates the second verse of a cover of Burial’s “Archangel” confirms the “huge win” status.
Even Chet Faker devotees that have followed his journey from Nevermind DJ to SoundCloud sensation seemed unprepared for the soul strangling rawness of Murphy’s delivery. The smooth transition into “Terms and Conditions” that follows snaps everyone from emotional despair to pure delight. A bassist, drummer and guitarist stroll onto the stage and are welcomed with a singalong from the crowd.
There’s no question Murphy is a perfectionist. During the studio-quality rendition of “Cigarettes and Chocolate”, his eyes dart frantically between his bassist, guitarist and drummer, begging them to nail their cues. He needn’t have worried: they do. For a track that lulls listeners into a chill zone, the frenetic flourishes of Murphy’s hands as they throw synth and vocals into the track betray its complexity.
It’s something you’d think would detract from the vibe, but instead the audience seems to buzz with the realisation they may be bearing witness to a prodigy. People are doing 360s to make sure they can exclaim to everyone around them ‘how good is this! ‘(and other warranted clichés.)
“I’m Into You” elicits another crowd sing-along that is met with a brief smile from Murphy, before his focus once again becomes his performance. Fortunately, this focus during tracks is balanced by his banter to the crowd – it’s natural and easy to the point where you want to drag him off the stage for a pint and a chat.
Song selection-wise, there isn’t anything too shocking. What makes the gig so rewarding for fans is the heart and energy they get from the live set that Murphy’s impeccably crafted recordings fail to capture. This energy is most obvious in the final, and arguably most anticipated track, the super-smooth “No Diggity”.
In a final gift to the audience, they get to see Murphy really let loose. His passionate flailing at the keys sets off a sneaky bass riff, which inspires the guitarist to groove before bringing the eccentric display of musical talent to a peak with an impromptu drum solo. Murphy rocks with pure enjoyment while still maintaining the aura of cool-guy swag.
Whether its showing off his DJ prowess or ripping your heart out with his vocals, Chet Faker well and truly delivers.
– Alice Eastman
