The ornate technicolour ceiling of NGV’s grand hall is a sight to behold when emboldened by sunlight, which perhaps provides some explanation as to why tonight’s event started so damn early. Criminally, co-headlining US duo Teengirl Fantasy performed, rather incredibly, at a far too premature o’clock. Their set belied their timeslot, however, managing to pull off what could well have functioned as a ecstatic crescendo to the evening. Everything came together with the splendour of Cheaters, with the geometric balloon sculptures placed around the dancefloor somehow managing to prolong their fate for the time being.
Teengirl Fantasy’s timeslot would have benefitted from a switch with Cut Copy bassist Ben Browning’s penultimate running time placement. The fully live setup askewed the night’s narrative, though it was a serviceable bout of dance pop. Some sonic characteristics of Browning’s full-time band were present. Also present was Shags Chamberlain. Not present were Shags’ pants.
It was a big stage for irrepressible R&B duo Collarbones, and they more than rose to the occasion. Performing material primarily from Die Young, their superb release of this year, the outfit triggered the explosive demise of the balloon sculptures. The crowd’s rampant balloon toying and popping was a little overbearing, yet it strangely complementing the nostalgic themes of Collarbones’ recent output. Beatsmith Travis Cook’s sampler was apparently out of action tonight, yet it didn’t noticeably diminish the performance. Missing was a euphoric triumph. The set concluded with a ‘90s rave throwback throwdown, as Collarbones are prone to instigate.
Immediately after Browning’s set wound up, man of the hour Tim Sweeney took to the decks. Last in town for a flawless early-AM Meredith set, there was an air of victory lap as Sweeney gleefully ran through his disco oriented set – featuring the likes of Earth Wind & Fire.
The PA was punishingly loud at the forefront, and dissipated exponentially towards the back. There was a generous sweet spot, resulting in a delightfully packed region of the dancefloor. There were fleeting bursts of strobe, too fleeting to truly take things to the next level.
The night concluded with Cutters Records honcho and Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford goaded a wanting crowd into a cheer for encore at the night’s conclusion. However, Sweeney’s turntables were left impotent by a prudent power-cutter. Maybe it was just as well – we wanted this thing to go all night.
BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
LOVED: Dance, dance, dancing.
HATED: Lighting was a tad underwhelming.
DRANK: Beers while waiting in line to buy beers.
