The Presets @ Tivoli, Brisbane(09/06/06)

Thu 15th Jun, 2006 in Gig Reviews

After overcoming a momentary scare at the door when I think the Presets have already started, I move inside the Tivoli, which to me feels like one of the few genuine venues left in Brisbane that can really handle a larger gig.

The Modular DJs are some way into their set when I walk in, and the crowd is impressive already, despite the fact that the Presets won’t start for hours yet. It’s an interesting crowd, with a large proportion obviously there primarily for the headliners, but with a solid representation from the rave scene, there to see Modular DJs and Digitalism as well. The pedigree of the Infinity gigs is top notch, emerging from the rebel Canberra rave scene of 20 years ago – but with a lot of the crowd (myself included) barely out of nappies when those brave souls first rocked that barn in the ACT, there was always going to be a diverse range of people attending. A fair contingent of hipsters are milling around, mixed with indie kids and more than any gigs fair share of glow sticks (shudder).

The Modular DJs’ set is very tight, and the boys get the crowd moving and keep them moving, with every drop and break getting funkier as the night wears on. But wear on it does – Modular play for hours! I saw them play for at least an hour and a half and people that arrived before me said they’d played for an hour before that. Obviously the boys are pretty pumped, and good as they are, it’s inevitable that after a while the crowd’s getting a touch antsy to hear Digitalism and Presets.

And what do people do when they’re getting a bit antsy at a gig? They go to the bar. In their hundreds. The ten barstaff at the Tivoli are quickly overwhelmed, and what is normally a fairly difficult task rapidly approaches the ridiculous. Luckily the crowd’s pleasant enough so the line is friendly and cordial, but it’s certainly good luck over good management.

When Modular eventually finish they’re farewelled with very well earned applause from the crowd which is now truly representative of the Presets – big, sweaty and ready to party.

Digitalism enter the stage to a decent roar and get straight to it – German style. It’s no nonsense, get on the floor and get moving dance music, but they’re definitely labouring under the weight of the massive Modular set beforehand. It’s nearly eleven thirty already and they’re only half a track in – not the ideal start for the second headliners. Then, something unexpected but oddly beautiful happens. I look up on the stage to see where the sound disappeared to and see The Presets setting up!

Digitalism can’t have played for more than twenty minutes, but I don’t hear any complaints. The crowd stampedes towards the dancefloor, grabbing drinks and whatever else they need for the set, and it’s on. This is easily the most sexual show Brisbane has seen in years – the whole dancefloor is a massive seething mass of sweaty, sleazy humanity. The set is blistering. Are You The One is right up the top, tipping the crowd into overdrive from the very start.

From there, the Sydney boys are relentless, the dancing is frantic and everyone is lost in the biggest soundscape of the night. Steamworks adds more sleaze (if possible) to the set. It even seems like the whole crowd has joined together in a lewd embrace, driven by the urgent thrust of the bassline. Any drop in tempo would be welcome at another gig, if just to catch breath – but the crowd wants and gets no opportunity to slacken off – the level of sleaze perpetuated by the Presets is just unrivalled. They punch track after track of the most high energy party music to an adoring crowd.How often do you hear “genre blending” or “unique” in a review? Screw that. This music isn’t about a genre, it’s about going nuts on a dancefloor with your eye on one thing. Sex. This is music without inhibitions – but somehow, without a scary vibe. The use of tracks like ‘Down, Down Down’ and ‘I Go Hard, I Go Home’ is sublime, just when it seems like the anticipation can’t go any higher, they manage to kick it up a notch. The live presence of this band is just unbelievable for only two guys. The other amazing thing is just how much personality they manage to get across in their act – it’s not the easiest thing to make hundreds of people feel close to the stage, but they pull it off.

After the set, the crowd spills out onto the street, but it’s almost like no one wants to leave. All panting, all covered in sweat, all still bathing in the afterglow of the show. Everyone mills around out the front of the Tivoli for at least fifteen minutes before the inevitable march towards the mall begins. I see at least a dozen people from the gig later in the evening, and the feeling is that we’ve witnessed something amazing.

It’s like a one night stand with a beautiful stranger in a foreign country – you’ll never be able to replicate it or forget it.