Considering it bucketed rain the very next morning, it felt like Melbourne was definitely on the side of homegrown hero Chet Faker. The sun was shining brightly, creating the perfect setting for a night atop the grassy knoll of Sidney Myer’s amphitheatre.
Faker handpicked each of his opening acts, including Australian-born singer Cleopold and a project called Awesome Tapes of Africa. With his futuristic melodies, New Zealand’s Silicon got everyone in a dancing mood as the sun was setting, while Melbourne duo Otologic used some percussion-heavy tunes to ensure everyone was ready for the main event.
The crowd was going ballistic by the time Chet Faker hit the stage, joined by a full band and four back-up singers. He opened with a few crowd favourites like Melt, Love & Feeling, I’m Into You and Release Your Problems, which had even the dorkiest dads dancing like they had rhythm.
Apparently every live show he attempts a new cover, and unfortunately this time it wasn’t the work of art many anticipated – trying his hand at The Carpenters’ Close To You and failing miserably. The tempo was way off. Moving on, anyone who wasn’t already up and dancing joined in for his popular cover of Blackstreet’s No Diggity, which he says he’ll “be putting to bed soon.” He followed with Flume’s Drop The Game and Blush.
1998 was perhaps the biggest song for the night, utilising the percussion backing and a light show that truly overwhelmed the senses. Special guest Marcus Marr joined Faker on stage for their collaboration The Trouble With Us, and the funk-heavy guitar work really upped the ante. One of his female back-up singers opened Gold, which he dedicated to the city and had everyone clapping along, before picking up an electric guitar for Dead Body.
Things ended nicely with Cigarettes & Loneliness, which came with a super-long intro and had Faker on keys. The encore came quickly with a piano being wheeled out, starting with an unreleased song and everyone then lost their minds and voices to sing along with Talk Is Cheap.
BY CHRIS BRIGHT
Photo by Richard Lipp
Loved: 1998.
Hated: His cover of The Carpenters’ Close To You.
Drank: Boag’s Draught cans.
