Major Lazer and Flosstradamus stole Listen Out festival’s by-line of ‘Party Redefined’ and gave Melbourne a show full of sweat, nudity, twerking, streamers, strobes, and heavy, heavy bass.
With J2K (one half of Flosstradamus) missing his flight, remaining member Curt Cameruci, aka Autobot, took the reigns and produced a high octane, engaging, and sensory show that blanketed the obvious void. Within minutes of the set commencing, the Palace Theatre was almost at capacity. Gold and blue hued spotlights circulated the room while people moved fervently to every hip hop and EDM beat. As the strobe lights blinked and the beats grew loud, the crowd went wild.
From “make some noise if you appreciate underground music” leading into ‘Underground’, to encouraging the “baddest bitches to get on peoples’ shoulders” for 2 Chainz’s ‘Birthday Song’, his introductions got the thumbs up. Dropping many of their own hits such as ‘Pillz’, ‘Roll Up’, ‘Pop That Pussy’, and ‘Mosh Pit’, the crowd roared so heavily that it sounded pre-recorded.
Autobot started Wu Tang chants, directed mosh pits, asked for middle fingers in the air, and slipped in Snoop Dogg’s ‘Smoke Weed Everyday’ and Major Lazer’s ‘Original Don’ to keep the hype high. Claiming it as “the best show of the tour”, Autobot single-handedly showcased the impressive skills within Flosstradamus and received an equally appreciative crowd reaction.
Entering the stage to their ‘Royals’ dub, Major Lazer members Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Jillionaire were guns a blazin’ ready. Throwing Major Lazer dollars and unleashing streamer guns into the audience, the trio opened up with ‘Mashup The Dance’ while Fire explained that he “wasn’t expecting this many people in this motherf***er”. Safe to say, it was huge from the get-go.
Atop a giant triangular platform, Diplo continued to release streamers while Jillionaire stayed behind the decks and Fire spurred the crowd on with two female dancers below. ‘Wind Up’ saw the first use of fire extinguishers and backing visuals of checkerboards and crowd shots. Mixing Bingo Players’ ‘Rattle’ with ‘Watch Out For This’, the impressive dancers began holding upside-down poses as Diplo flew a flag with their ‘lazers never die’ symbol.
Diplo unleashed the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s ‘Heads Will Roll’ and Kanye West’s ‘Lamborghini Mercy’. As transfixing, travelling constellation visuals emerged, Major Lazer promised, “we’re going to go all out for you guys”.
‘Zombie Nation’ paved the way for their massive hit with Flux Pavillion, ‘Jah No Partial’. The crowd were then advised to remove at least one piece of clothing. ‘Jah No Partial’ began again, and right after the drop, the song stopped. The three-piece got serious about the nudity, asking those who kept their clothes on to move to the back of the room to allow for all the true Major Lazer fans to come forward. It wasn’t long before the majority of the Palace patrons were swinging their clothing in the air.
The mayhem continued as Fire flew a Jamaican flag to their new track ‘Sound Bang’. The gentle reggae introduction allowed for a brief breather – that is, until the mosh pit were asked to run from left to right in unison. It was an incredible sight to take in. After such intensity, the perfect path had been constructed for the placidness of ‘Get Free’. It was a magical, soothing moment amongst the madness.
Audience members were invited up for a twerking throw-down during Sean Paul’s ‘Get Busy’ which continued through to ‘Bubble Butt’. A partial play of ‘Pon De Floor’ into The Prodigy’s ‘Breathe’ and Blur’s ‘Song 2’ was a very successful and excessively sweaty mix. Once again, flags were flown and streamers dropped, and even though it was for the 73rd time in the set, it never ceased to get old.
Finishing with Macklemore’s ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and getting friends to unite with their hands in the air, Major Lazer farewelled their legions of fans and enticed those to rendezvous with them next at Big Day Out. Overall, nothing could mentally or physically prepare for the extraordinary sensory overload that is Major Lazer, and it is a party that should forever be attended.
