Bacardi Express 2010

All aboard the Bacardi Express!

The Tivoli on Thursday March 25th was a place where you may have lost track of class and dignity... but when God closes a door, he opens a window, by providing great live music, hordes of indie kids, and a fuckload of Bacardi.

Kicking off the show was the new works from Audio Visual DJ Sampology. This guy takes a bunch of footage from various media outlets, plus special custom made Sampology animations, and creates an AV inclusive music mash up that got the crowd warmed up.

However, the audience wasn’t fully alive until the first stop off with the Cassette Kids. The electro pop four-piece from Sydney made good use of their new wave indie pop synths to get people going.

I daresay they’ve picked up a move or two after touring with the likes of The Presets and Lilly Allen. Katrina Noorbergen’s vocals show confidence and had us dancing enough to feel that pang of thirst for our first 3 or 4 Bacardi cocktails - on special.

Next up was the awesome foursome Miami Horror who were surprisingly good as I’ve often heard they do not live up to the standard set by their studio recordings. Electro pop meets a more dance rock with this lot, served with a side of bizarre rock outfits reminiscent of Queen - complete with fur coats and odd hats.

They did well to keep the adrenalin working, but they were a mere entre for the entrance of Yves Klein Blue, who broke the electro chain and really got the crowd cheering.

Their new wave punk attitude mimics a modern day indie Elvis Presley style of music, as front man Michael Tomlinson possesses The King’s sexy boy next door persona complete with a side of bad boy attitude.

The more modest guys on instruments also have what it takes, rocking out great melodies and giving it all they had. The hard work and vigour that went into their recent album Ragged and Ecstatic was highly evident.

A great crowd response to follow and an excellent live performance style, which did not waiver as Art Vs Science donned the stage.

Once again, amazing performance energy, as can only be expected of this radical crew. They played all the favourites, including a sneak peak at their new single ‘Magic Fountain’, which is sure to be a big hit, and has us all waiting with baited breath for a new album that’s sure to be a festival frequenter.

The boys were dressed with style – vests and hats for a sophisticated look. Good audience involvement, many a flipper used to get down, and the witty banter got a lot of laughs.

Although, confidence turned to arrogance when keyboard player Jim Finn lapped up the cheers a bit too much, as he stood up on the speakers, arms wide, as if he were some kind of saviour... WTF?

The two Dan’s kept confident and modest in the limelight, however, keeping my crush on Dan Mac intact. He displayed brilliance in guitar solo skills sitting atop of Jim Finn's shoulders for what was an impressive length of time.

Last up was the ever sassy La Roux who won me over quite instantaneously. Elly Jackson and her incredible androgyny was without a doubt several Bacardi filled audience members favourite.

Indeed she was strongly idolised, and her performance style gave her the edge of a new age female David Bowie, sans space suit, and of course with the addition of a few synths courtesy of production evolution.

The favourites were all present including ‘I’m Not Your Toy’, ‘Going in for the Kill’, ‘Tigerlily’, and ‘Bulletproof’. Elly may not have always hit the exact right notes as with by her studio recordings, but with a performance that energetic, no one was complaining.

That’s it for Brisbane’s Bacardi Express adventure for 2010. The show must go on, and the train must keep on chugging. But what a successful stop it was; complete with great music, great times, and a great lot of Bacardi... and yet, never, ever enough.

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