Yacht Club DJs are, simply put, one of the best live DJ acts in the country. Every single time you see them play they are memorable and utterly enjoyable.
Playing to a sold out crowd at the Prince Bandroom in St Kilda, the duo of Gaz Harrison and Guy Chappell put on a show that visually matched their incredible sound. The group’s new found “flashiness”, as Harrison recently described it, was evident via a neon sign with their own moniker on it, making their stage presence look a lot more professional than on previous tours.
The duo were supported by Remi and Godwolf, the latter of which received a particularly good reception with an energy-filled set that captivated the already full venue.
On the third date of the tour in Byron Bay, Harrison rolled his ankle very badly – if the pictorial evidence from their Facebook page is anything to go by. Despite logical reasoning that you shouldn’t really be walking with such an injury, he was jumping several feet in the air at various times during the action-packed set. How did he do it? He gaffer taped an explorer sock around his injured ankle. Combined with the alcohol, that was enough to get him through – so much so that if the DJ hadn’t showed this reviewer personally, you never would never have suspected a thing.
Those who have seen Yacht Club DJs before will know that, while the crowd is always a ragged, sweaty mess, the headliners are even more so, up the front starting the party and leading by example. This gig was no exception.
The set drew heavily on their latest free mixtape, the puntastic Oddity Number 5. However, it sure didn’t sound like they had simply plugged in their laptops, pressed play, jumped up and down, and drank a lot. Sure, there was plenty of the latter, but it was the way that elements of songs, TV theme jingles, and other tid-bits came together unexpectedly that made the show so nostalgic and entertaining.
Mashed like a heap of potatoes accompanying a Sunday roast included the likes of 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ along with songs from The White Stripes, Nate Dogg, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and the Fresh Prince’s singalong classic, ‘Boom Boom Shake The Room’.
Outkast’s ‘Ms Jackson’ was a highlight, as was ‘Thriller’. Particularly memorable due to the audience participation it garnered was the Mumford And Sons song ‘Little Lion Man’ and Blur’s banger ‘Song 2’.
Even after nursing what was surely an epic collective hangover from their hometown gig in Ballarat the night before, the two-piece still managed to be the life and soul of the party.
Because of the dancing, singing along, and everything else that ensues at their show, it’s easy to overlook just how skilled they are at their craft. However, it is undeniable just how well they throw together songs and layer completely different music genres so well, while also catering for people who opt for bands rather than DJs. Perhaps because they both play in bands as well, they know just what to deliver.
In short, it’s almost guaranteed that a night spent at a Yacht Club DJs show will remain a standout for months after.
