Allday at the Metro Theatre - 14/6/14 - Live Review
- Jul 2, 2014
- 3 min read
Let me set the scene. It's a Saturday, I've been working in a bakery for 9 hours, my feet are aching and I smell like bread. I ran to the bus only to miss it and get on the train late. I'm running down George Street hoping I don't miss Jackie Onassis at the all ages Allday gig at The Lair. I've already missed Mikey Hundred (who I hear was great) and I'm about ready to collapse in a pool of my own sweat and tears. Worst day ever.
I finally get outside the Lair, get my bag checked and run up the stairs. They're on stage. I'm so fucking late. Then I hear,
"Uh, I said I don't need a chart topper, I need a heart stopper."
I walk into The Lair just as Kai Tan of Jackie Onassis starts rapping 'Holiday', Raph Dixon behind him supplying the beats. Everything suddenly feels ten million times better. Nailed it.
Jackie Onassis are a great act – it’s nice to see a hip hop duo where both halves know how to work a crowd, when we so often see the MC taking over and the beats taking a back seat. From the “Uh-Oh”’s if It Goes to the “AYYY”s of Special Occasion, Raph has just as much energy as Kai (i.e. a truckload), making the live experience even better than what we get in the recording. When performing their original stuff, these guys are a force you shouldn’t dare to reckon with. That, however, brings me to their underwhelming Like A Version of Beyoncé’s Drunk In Love. I thought the cover was pretty disappointing when I first heard it, but it was even more so without the big backup vocals guy who joined them on Triple J. It sounded kind of like drunken karaoke. Leave it to Queen B.
Overall, though, sitting through 4 minutes of that average replication was worth the rest of the set. Great energy, sublime audience interaction, would definitely see again.
The guys hopped off stage sooner than expected, leaving us after a relatively short – but quality – set, giving me a little time to admire the venue. If you've never been to The Lair - it's the Metro Theatre's teeny tiny counterpart that makes me "aww" like I'm seeing a baby smile for the first time. It's adorable. The standing area is spacious considering how small the venue is, with a second level balcony for seating, and green vines decorating all the rails and poles, making for a super, super cute venue and a really laidback atmosphere. The seats are arranged in tables and couches rather than rows, which I love – it feels like it’s not just about seeing the performer, but interacting with the rest of the audience as well. Top quality venue for intimate gigs, 5 stars, will be back ★★★★★
Before I knew it, Allday/Tom Gaynor/Chubby Boy/Alldeezy/that-guy-who-always-seems-to-wear-something-on-his-head was on stage, absolutely killing it. (His headgear on this particular occasion was a sweatband, later followed by a fan supplied wide brimmed hat of some sort. An akubra? I’m not sure. Ask him, he’s the headwear expert.)
I love this dude so much. He was sick and he had the 18+ show to do later that night, but he still put all the energy he could into his performance. I cannot wait to see him at his best. Not only is this guy talented but he has this air of humility and obvious appreciation for his success that I really admire. Even when he’s using the phrase “drownin’ in pussy”, it’s light hearted enough for me to not want to punch him in the face. I have nothing negative to say – I just wish it could have lasted longer.
He played all the singles, some old stuff, and some new album stuff. It was all excellent, but the highlights were probably Girl In The Sun, the new album song that I’ve forgotten the name of and Claude Monet. Nothing really beat Steezed Out, though, which has not stopped playing in my head since. Nothing better than watching a bunch of 15-year-old girls jump around screaming, “Shut the fuck up, you cunt bag, fuck you.” Thank you Alldeezy for that moment in time. I will cherish it forever.
The fangirls were kind of terrifying, if I’m being honest. I’m pretty sure they threw enough of their clothes at him to fill a new wardrobe. If you’re leaving a concert in June without your jacket, you should probably re-evaluate that decision for next time.
So, yeah. That’s Allday. The album is called Startup Cult and it’s out on Friday. Buy it.
Review by Maddy Abbott
Photo by Aidan Moloney view more here
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