Bag Raiders @ Lot 33, Canberra(14/08/09)

Sat 15th Aug, 2009 in Gig Reviews

When next you have a loved one on the other side of the world and are struggling to communicate in real time, just adopt the Lot 33 lifestyle – you get up in the evening; come home in the morning; and go to bed feeling the same way (thanks Boss).

Having made the mistake of arriving before midnight, us tourists had to indulge in some dirty pints and bad impersonations around the block before heading back to Lot for the dancing. The place had gone from quiet to riot in the space of an hour and the pre-DJs were entertaining a growing posse of hipsters – well-healed ones too, with 20 bones for the cover and about 30 for a round of alcopops. The bad impersonations gave way to sloppy dance moves and fishy pickup lines, set against a background of great remixed tracks from artists like The Gossip and Bloc Party.

It was about 2am (who was checking!?) when Jack Glass and Chris Stacey, collectively Bag Raiders hit the decks. They’ve got that “Modular” look about them now – you know that, “we could record ourselves pissing in the bath and it would be cool” look. Luckily they don’t have to, as their music is really captivating. It would’ve been nice had they brought their keyboards down, but the growing catalogue of recognisable Bag Raiders tracks speaks for itself, and the place was throbbing regardless.

Into the wee hours we went in order to launch the new Shooting Stars single, which is the latest chapter in the – œadventure music’ of the Sydney duo. These guys play beautifully poppy dance music, and its French sensibilities mean they’re just the latest artist to add to the Parisian pull (building on the work of MGMT, Ladyhawke and Friendly Fires). Despite too many dicks on the dance floor, it was quite a party the locals put on, and a fitting performance by the slickers.

Come the end of such the show, one simply battles home through the pre-dawn air, boils the jug, and sits down for a transatlantic phone call – easy.