williamb’s gallery

If red bull were to contract a band to add to their advertising campaign, all disco-pop rocking kids present at Capitol last Saturday night would surely agree that Sydney’s electro-rock three piece Art vs Science would get the gig.

The brightly dressed, mixed metro-sexual queue to the sold-out final gig for the Magic Fountain Tour sprawled a good 200 metres down Murray Street as anticipation gradually rose amongst the tipsy youngsters.

Verging on sardine-packed inside, it was a delightful relief that Capitol managed to cater for the ‘personal dancing bubble’, allowing fans the ability to stand on their own two feet without stepping on others for the majority of the evening. When the fiery dance act entered the purple and blue lit stage carrying two giant-sized blow-up penguins, fashionable fans greeted them with roars and screams of excitement and expectation.

Jumping straight into unfamiliar dance-rock track Finally See Our Way, young hipsters in the respectful mosh had their hands jiving in the air by the chorus and the echo of the crowd repeating the lyrics “This is what we’re waiting for,” back to keyboard/vocalist, Jim Finn, heightened the atmosphere amongst the squeaky clean discotheque goers.

There was no doubt Finn had already captivated their audience by the third song for the fun-filled set Higher. Inviting everyone to join along in a count-down to the chorus mid-way through the tight, rocky tune, Finn was like a god and the party-popping peeps his worshippers as hesitation in hand-raising was not an option nor considered.

Energy didn’t dissipate but certainly stepped down a level during new Take A Look as feet-shufflers and lemon-lime-soda drinkers eagerly eyed the stage, danced as if it were involuntary and perhaps sub-consciously tried to categorise the part-electro, part-rock original unsuccessfully. But as soon as the familiar, soft movie sound-track type keyboard introduced Friend in The Field, banister bearers and the upstairs audience let go of the safety bars and lost their shit. The only thing that could’ve caused a heart-attack on the audience energy gage for this electrifying performance would’ve been the result of the larger-than-life penguins had they been chucked out for a cheeky crowd-surf.

Although Rain Dance was a newbie, its strong vocals and almost drum n bass type intensity created an electric dancing circuit as drinks were sloshed and friendly fan behaviour exacerbated, however, it was difficult to tell whether such festivity were the symptoms of Friend in The Field withdrawals or general appreciation of new work.

Even if they were symptoms, they didn’t last for long as Finn’s strong vocals commanded the attention of all as he announced, “In the beginning there was a fountain. But it wasn’t just any fountain.” But the first lyrics for the tour title track Magic Fountain were almost drowned out as a euphoric eruption from all happy, obedient dance monsters in the crowd took place. There was a small slice of time during the first chorus when Finn fired out the repeated chorus, “It was a magic fountain,” where the jiving crowd danced as one and the lyrics reverberated off the dingy walls like an important war cry.

A wild rendition of American band Electric Six’ famous song Gay Bar by keyboardist and vocalist Dan Mac made for a refreshing change in the set and was a visual highlight for the evening as Mac got the crowd pumping with a powerful guitar solo and energetically jumped about the stage in a casual manner.

Predictable crowd-pleaser Parlez Vous Francais triggered a Bliss N Eso type crowd reaction in which solid, hip-hop movements replaced short, sharp disco-ing. But this wasn’t the only familiar, pop-rap tune that the majority of the crowd were treated to. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s Boom! Shake The Room had all nineties kids downing their drinks so as to participate in the audience/Mac sing-a-long involving a repeated audience response to Mac’s spontaneous shout outs like, “Say Perth,” “I love you,” “The Fresh Prince,” and random noises like “jibadaabaddoo.”

By the time the animated, childish sounds of the keyboard in Flippers echoed out into the still pleasant sea of fans, no-one was going anywhere. Although concentration spans amongst the gen Y are often viewed as minimal, this innocent and timeless party track was still a winner and judging on crowd enthusiasm, it won’t be placed in the “so last year” box.

Finishing with an impressive and raging performance of Hollywood, there was almost no point in the audience trying to keep paces with the band’s energy as it had surpassed them and left most physically drained and in wonderment or at least at the bar witnessing the rip-roaring spectacle before buying another drink once the magic was over.

williamb’s gallery