Sex on Toast launched their debut album at the Northcote Social Club on Friday night to a sold-out room. We arrived as The Cactus Channel were doing their thing. The instrumental soul/funk million-piece have been playing around for some time now, delivering fat, tight originals and tongue-in-cheek covers to full rooms.
After a short interlude and some sass from a bartender, the lights dimmed and a projector screen lowered in front of the closed curtains. The crowd fell silent as the sexy, funky grooves with synth laden melody started to pipe through the PA, complete with requisite slick, funny film clip for Hold My Love. Then the curtain lifted and the show began. And what a show from the aptly named nine-man powerhouse. This tour-de-force draws influences from R&B, pop, funk, soul, a little hint of boy band, and even some good old fashioned rock’n’roll. They nail each harmony and pull it all off with undeniable polished style and unbridled charisma.
Sex on Toast riff with each other so well onstage that it’s almost confusing; they pull off this organic choreography that makes you get on up and move, before stopping to marvel at the seamless callouts, throwbacks, roll calls, and each separate instance of getting the audience involved and feeling good. This, coupled with energetic, infectious dancing is conducive- bordering on forceful-to an almost indescribable atmosphere.
They exploded out of the speakers for the whole show: top to bottom, floor to ceiling. I’d feel comfortable saying that Sex on Toast are one band you need to go and see right now. Damn good fun.
BY REI BARKER
Loved: Most things.
Hated: Sassy Bar Chick getting all up in my shit.
Drank: Beer.
