Warming up a Wednesday night stage at the Fortitude Music Hall, CHAI graced the stage with an amazing amount of energy. You can tell Mac DeMarco had carefully chosen the band to break the crowd into the vibe that was to follow with his much anticipated return to Brisbane.
Mana, Kana, Yuuki and Yuna synchronised their choreography and often switched instruments during the set. The drums had a beautiful gated reverb which helped establish a strong dance atmosphere, with synth tones and bass blistered through the mix. Unfortunately, the guitar lines seemed muddy and indistinct from the synths, which left anyone playing the instrument looking mime-like.
At times, CHAI’s vocals veered a little too close to the screeching zone, and their harmonies never seemed to quite meet each other. It’s possible that the monitor mix, or the overall fatigue of tour was taking its toll on the foursome. Regardless, the band's energy would attract a lot of listeners, and their happy nature had cemented the atmosphere that would remain for the rest of the show.
It was my first time seeing Pond, who followed next. Before they took the stage, I thought they may have been more of a jam band due to their psychedelic nature. My misconception was shortly corrected: the songs were tight and the melodies often ripped through the stage. Nick Allbrook’s stage presence is one of the most powerful parts of witnessing this band in action; there are nods to Iggy Pop’s androgynous flailing dancing and rag doll-esque performance. Throughout the set, Allbrook was the pinnacle of interest, switching from flute to guitar solos mid-song and hurling his body into the crowd. I was making comparisons of what it may sound like to listen to Tears for Fears through broken speakers. Pond definitely proved themselves as a unique and diverse Australian band that has earnt their place in the psychedelic music scene.
Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” played as Mac took the stage, gracing the crowd, who couldn’t help but sing along. After all his years touring, his stage presence remains the same as always - goofy, energetic personality consistently showing through in every song. I was a little shocked by how short some of the tracks were once I saw them live, but the quick songs left the crowd energized and engaged throughout a majority of the performance. DeMarco’s fan participation is still one of the most incredible things to hear, with hundreds singing along to “My Old Man” and classics such as “Freaking Out the Neighborhood”.
The performance started really well, but the band practically dissolved before the crowd’s eyes. An improvised jam had Mac jump on the keys while Andy White soloed, but left newer recruits in the band confused. The keyboard player attempted to join in, picking up Mac’s guitar, but then put it back down because he couldn’t play along.
A cover of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” saw Mac jump on the drums, but it seemed to drag a little too much, driving the room to distraction. I was anticipating an encore at the end of his set, but the crowd had turned for the door by the time Mac put his guitar down.
The tension didn’t manage to take away from the absolute bright spirit that Mac had exuded, however. One of the best artists of the 2010s has pushed through into 2020. The show's energy makes me excited to see what else is going to come for him and what he brings to Brisbane next time.
- Coby Healey