Love Our Carlson, hate strobes.
Our Carlson took to Miscellania last Friday and as always, they absolutely stole the show with their unbridled chaotic energy and hilarious banter. From the opening act by Nite Fruit to the final set by Katie Pearson, the night was filled with fiery liveliness, humour and excellent music.
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The first time I saw Our Carlson was at Meredith – while they were one of my highlights of the festival, the intimacy, closeness and stuffiness of the club suited the act much better than the open space of the festival. It really is one of those acts that is at its best when you’re up close, dancing furiously and getting really sweaty, all the while conducted by Our Carlson’s contagious energy and charisma.
Cash Daddy and Carlson had excellent banter throughout the night and their humour was a definitive highlight of the show. Before their performance of Cappo Dog, they joked about the state of the banks: we can’t pay rent but hey, at least the banks are doing okay! Clever and authentic, their banter felt like hanging out with friends more than it felt like a planned act.
From cries of “every body is sexy,” to addressing the audience as “ladies, gentlemen and everyone in-between,” Our Carlson’s political and social commentary was on point, and it was refreshing to see them use their platform to spread awareness and encourage change.
The event was strobe-free, which made it accessible to those who may have sensory issues or epilepsy, which Carlson himself was diagnosed with in his 30s. They’ve made waves across Melbourne’s music scene with their encouragement to “boo strobes in sets,” resulting in this year’s Golden Plains greatly reducing the use of strobes in their sets following Our Carlson’s Meredith performance.
Nite Fruit was an excellent opening act, and their music set the tone for the night. Katie Pearson’s set was the perfect way to close out the show and her inclusion of Sugababes in her set was a highlight.
In what felt like a true testament to their friendship and the quality of her set, Our Carlson introduced her by saying, “get you someone who looks at you like how I look at Katie Pearson DJing.”
The performance was so entertaining that even those who stumbled upon it by accident couldn’t help but enjoy it – I ran into someone from high school after the show at the KFC downstairs who had come to Miscellania expecting a regular club night. Instead, she had run headfirst into an Our Carlson show. “It was like watching a drunk guy at Flinders Street Station rant and rave. Couldn’t stop laughing.”
It really is their irreverently humorous approach to social and political issues that I love the most – spitting some gnarly stuff over great tracks, it makes for a completely unique and enjoyable performance. Highly recommend catching one of their shows if you haven’t already, it’s a guaranteed good time.
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