Walking into the Prince Band room, I noticed that there was a certain feeling in the air and I’m not talking about the giant electrical storm which lashed Melbourne that night. I’m referring to bubbling anticipation in the room for the Phrase concert and the premonition that I was in for a really great night of music.
Kicking things off were Melbourne based quintet The Melodics, who dished out an awesome warm up set, blending 80’s synth-pop with a mixture of hip-hop and rock. Their music started to amp up the crowd of punters lucky enough to be there early enough to catch their performance. The Melodics style is best described as a mixture of the 80’s sensibilities of bands like Huey Lewis & the News (and I mean that in the best sense) meeting a blend of hip-hop rock fusion ala Gnarls Barkley or 1200 Techniques. They delivered a really great set and are definitely a band to keep your eye on!
Next up on the bill was indie hip-hop’s one man band Snob Scrilla. He opened with the hit single Chasing Ghosts immediately satisfying every audience member’s expectations and proceeded to deliver a catchy set, filled with songs off his impressive debut LP, Day One. Highlights included There You Go Again and new single Heartbreak Scorsese.
Things took an unexpected turn about halfway through the set when Snob Scrilla introduced to the crowd to local musician Bangs. Snob had first seen Bangs’ catchy debut – and viral sensation – Take U To The Movies on YouTube last week and had managed to track him down to give him the opportunity to debut his song on stage, complete with free popcorn for the audience. For the hip-hop loving crowd at Prince it was a really great improvised moment!
Next up was the headliner Phrase who was given a roaring welcome thanks to an energetic sold out crowd all hopped up on good vibes and endorphins. Opening up with killer the track Burn It Down, a cracking blend of hip hop and rock, Phrase set the tone for his entire performance, which was accompanied by a full backing band, DJ Flagrant and a string section that consisted of a violinist and cellist.
Being the homecoming show for his Clockwork tour, Phrase seemed to pull out all the stops and really did give the crowd the best of himself. Tracks like Clockwork, All Good and Stay The Same were amazing. The duet performances with special guests including the Wendy Matthews inspired Day You Went Away with Jade MacRae on vocals; Paradise featuring the unique vocal styling’s of Jackson Jackson’s Harry Angus; Surrender with new kid on the block Illy; and Kram on Skylight.
He encored with the third single off the record, Spaceship, which involved all Phrase’s special guests, opening acts and band members on stage and join in while Phrase crowd surfed the packed out crowd of the Prince Band room.
Now I see a lot of live music and enjoy nearly all of it, but at this point I do have to tell you that Phrase’s gig was my favourite concert of the year, outside of a festival; which is a big call I know, but an accurate and well deserved one!
to listen to their music now on 
lukey26
said on the 5th Nov, 2009