A lull seeps over the packed Workers Club bandroom. Awaiting side of stage in a sparking white dinner jacket, sporting a manicured goatee and an irrepressible grin, is Donny Benet, man of mystery. A soaring synth backing track sweeps throughout the room, emanating a smoothly intoxicating ambiance with enough lo-fi qualities to make it feel like everybody was just handed a pair of velvet-lined earmuffs. The backing track layers on a little bit of slap bass as the man of the moment takes the stage, nodding his head gently, examining his glistening vintage Moog with caution. With nonchalant aplomb, the lo-fi backing track becomes overwhelmed by the one-two punch of an incredible low-end bass line and Donny’s sensual, high-pitched vocals. He has the audience in the palm of his hand. They stay there for the next 40 minutes.
There’s a distinct formula to the live recreation of a Donny Benet number. He croons sweet nothings purveying notions of sophistication, love, making sweet love, Japan, reciting poetry all night long, Lionel Richie’s All Night Long then breaks in down into either a gleefully disjointed Duran Duran-style guitar solo, or, takes to his Moog. And boy, does he take to the Moog. The solos usually start off at around the PG-recommended level, before he starts wailing on the pitch shifter until the climactic tones become so incredibly sensual they should be labeled with an MA15+ rating.
Though the centerpiece for the night’s setlist was his amazing debut single Don’t Hold Back, Donny did perform a select few non-album cuts. At his support slot for Warpaint a few weeks prior, Donny introduced Electric Love as a song about keeping in touch with his dad from overseas. Tonight, it was preceded with a tale of satisfying the ladies abroad. Such is the contradictory mystique of Donny Benet.
After finishing his set, Donny was coaxed back onstage (sans dinner jacket) by an insatiable crowd. He said goodbye in the best way possible, pulling off a surprise rendition of an amped-up, frenetic Burning Love as made famous by Mr. Presley himself. Could it be that Donny is Australia’s (or in fact, the 21st century’s) answer to Elvis? I’m not sure, but I can’t get enough of it.
Loved: The heat, the sophistication, the touch.
Hated: The wanker who stage-invaded and tried to hijack Donny’s guitar. As Donny said, “Not cool man.”
Drank: Briefly in between dancing. So much dancing.
