The Triffid's beer garden is already buzzing when I roll in, with my breath fogging before me. Brisbane is remembering it's winter, but letting us off easy tonight compared to last night's uber chill.
That said, some punters are rugged up, beanies out, others braving it in tees. Schooners are disappearing fast ahead of Mood Swing & Chevy Bass' Block Party kicking off (5 July). Yep, a few schooners seems to be the battle prep for a round of organised chaos.The crowd's trickling in smooth – no jostling, no agro – just a steady stream cruising to the merch stand or spilling into the beer garden. Inside I find Shady Lady opening the night. She is shaking off the early time slot like a pro behind her desk straddling her fringed stick seat.
Her mad mix is sublime and her personalised gift of Tracy Chapman's 'Give Me One Reason' really urges hips to sway. So cool, she waves to her fans as they arrive to join the gathering crowd, as she spins her mix of bass and classic party-starters.
Shady Lady is definitely setting the tone like she owns it – which, let's be real, she kinda does. Partner of Chevy Bass (so I hear), she is queen of the decks tonight. Heads are already bobbing, and a few punters ditch jackets and show off their sultry dance moves and getting warmed up for what's coming.
Shady Lady - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The early crowd continues to grow group by group as punters slowly edge forward, heads nodding, feet tapping inside the cool hangar. Next up, after a quick hug with Shady Lady, DJONN slides behind the desk.
Another weapon on the controllers, twisting psychedelic grooves into house beats with almost jazz-like detours. DJONN is a bit of a wildcard if you're not across them, but clearly has fans here tonight giving up some love to him on the stage.
DJONN continues spinning and weaving grooves with delicious deviations and ebbing sonic journeys. Punters gently rock to the beats and side stepping to their slick, elastic lines. DJONN keeps it seductive. Pumping the aural vibrations into the rafters while fire embers, clouds and morphing fractals are projected on the screen behind them.
A good chunk of the room's now forgotten how chilly it is outside. A few more folks down the front are also ditching fur coats and jackets, slinging them on the barrier to get their wiggle on. More of the beer garden crowd is filtering inside now, chasing the sound.
DJONN - image © Clea-marie Thorne
By the time DJONN wraps up to a round of cheers, the room's warming up proper – clearly shaking off the winter night. Versace Boys from around the traps of Byron and Mullumbimby don't muck around. . . well, they kinda do actually.
However, their onstage nonsense is half the charm and I can see why they were invited to be part of the line-up. Will Henderson and Alex Johnson bounce around behind the decks, belting out their high-energy anthems, keeping the glittery menace levels sky-high. They're joined by Lawson McGuinness (keys and brass) tonight, adding even more chaotic flair to the set.
As they play with our minds with their wit and feed our ears their tunes, the sticky Triffid floor's fully evolved into a dance floor – arms in the air, a few sunnies spotted despite it being pitch black inside.
Their song 'Nails' draws fans in the crowd and those who are across their tunes are singing loudly along. Another Versace Boys choir breaks free to join them in their song 'Vegan'.
Versace Boys - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Being drawn in tonight by Osaka Punch, I reckon the Versace Boys are the perfect hit of hot sauce in tonight's musical feast – tangy enough to cut through the glitter and bass, bold enough to hold their own before the heavyweights land.
They're the sneaky, spicy filler that locks the whole thing – sliding between DJ-fuelled disco, trippy ambience and the meaty, messy party centre that is Mood Swing & Chevy Bass. I need a drink during this break!
That heavier hit? Well, Osaka Punch are rolling in like the seasoned wrecking crew they are. I gotta say they are slotting into this mixed bill like they were born for it.
Jack Muzak (aka Jack Venables - vocals) is his usual unhinged self and then some tonight, throwing elastic faces and wrapping his pipes around funk-metal bangers like 'How We Operate' and 'Drones'.
Osaka Punch - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Chrispy Town (guitar) lets rip those twisted, chunky riffs that wobble between groove and straight-up weirdness. The hair flicks are minimal tonight – maybe it's the combo of a recent head-on collision and having to dad with not two but three sons now – but his riffs don't miss a beat.
Brenton Page (bass) and Jake Wright (drums) lock down grooves so filthy they should come with a health warning. Even Chevy Bass jumps in, flinging around a frankfurter he pulled out of his pants mid-set, hamming it up with the lads while the mosh heaves in response.
The set list is pure filth and fun: 'Tiffany', 'Slink', 'Eat Red Carpet', 'Hall Of Shame', 'Eat You Up' (dedicated to Venables' wife in the crowd), 'Kamikazi', 'Simulate', 'Actibreeze' (with a cheeky 'Ghost Busters' twist), 'Too Old', 'Drones', and 'How We Operate'.
You'd swear it's their only show of the year the way the crowd's frothing for it – full stomp mode, beers flying, pint glasses sacrificed to the sticky floor gods, bodies packed in tight, shivering one minute, drenched in sweat the next.
Mood Swing & Chevy Bass - image © Clea-marie Thorne
It's then time for Mood Swing & Chevy Bass to join the party and close it all out with the kind of theatrical, genre-bending chaos that's become their signature. Nick Economidis (Chevy Bass) lays down those swampy, wobbling basslines while David 'Dizzy' McEvoy (Mood Swing) flips from soulful hooks to full-blown rave siren.
I'm in love with the keytar wailing and percussion thumping, not to mention the lasers slicing the smoke to ribbons. It's kinda setting off a flashback for me and I'd say MS & CB have brought the festival indoors tonight.
Their set's a cross-genre explosion – bass music, house, funk and who-knows-what – layered with visuals, tribal beats and two cabaret-styled dancers swanning around in not much, waving to fans and swinging ribbons behind the masters on the decks. It adds just the right amount of cheek and festival flair to the laser-drenched madness.
Both Jack and Nick tell us of how their bands came to be friends. . . a long, long time ago in a faraway (not that far) place called Splendour In The Grass. You can feel the mutual admiration that has grown between them and somehow the line-up totes makes more sense.
Mood Swing & Chevy Bass - image © Clea-marie Thorne
They also pay tribute to a friend who has had his pic put up on the screen. His recent passing fresh and his life celebrated tonight through the music connections made with all the artists tonight.
I digress, back to the party! We are getting OG and mash-ups including Jimi Hendrix and Prince. It's a punny perhaps, but it is sure feeling like a tornado in a 'Suburban Jungle' the way the walls are shaking with punters 'Bustin' Loose' their best dance moves.
The joint is bouncing like it's 3am at some aircraft hanger in an abandoned industrial estate. Hehe! Fans, despite the outside temperature, are drenched and grinning as the feet of the diehards barely touch the ground.
There's still hours of party left – The Freshmaker's on deck 'til 1am – but I'm bailing after the headliners destroy me, squeezing through the pack of punters still queuing for drinks, with my ears ringing, lungs full of smoke machine residue, eyes fried from lasers, and enough bass rattling my chest to keep me buzzing all the way home.
I'd stay, but I value what's left of my brain cells – my liver, lungs, and dignity are already waving the white flag. A bloody good night – all heat, no frost.
More photos from the concert.
