It’s not every day that as a writer you get the opportunity to attend an early afternoon show at a gentleman’s club. There’s also not many reasons a man can get away with going there on a Saturday afternoon, but when it’s in the name of live music (and not nudity) it makes telling the story a little more above belt.
For those who haven’t been to a gentelman’s lounge before (honesty now, lads) it can be a ‘unique’ experience and this event promised to be no different. As soon as you entered -albeit after making it past some incredibly intimidating and rather overkill security – you could see why Centrefold Lounge had been the desired space.
The show, curated by local artistic team Friendships, which comprises of Nick Brown & Misha Grace, in partnership with Paradise Music delivered an Ultimatexxxperience. A combination of equal part sublime electronic and hip-hop beats plus some of Melbourne’s best underground acts with an amazing visual projection show that detailed every crevasse of the interior, from the giant chandelier hanging over the stage and its central pole, to the ornate wooden columns, ascending up to the viewing platform – the soft light set the mood for an intimate show.
One o’clock was a very interesting choice for a start time. Especially given that a number of punters rolling in were still feeling the lag from a late night partying (perhaps for RaRa’s EP launch at Boney). But, that was exactly the point. Everybody present were friends; all the patrons that began to pile in were here to support their community and unknowingly at the same time, set the stage for a rising subculture in Melbourne, one that’s being latched onto and thriving in-between the walls of some of its most iconic institutions.
Let’s not forget the lineup though, where guys/gals from the likes of Fletch, Electric Sea Spider, The Harpoons and 2fuddah knew exactly what they were doing, their creative fingers collectively right on the pulse of some of the best underground production pumping through the headphones of today’s internet generation.
Fletch and 2fuddah played two dope sets dropping Danny Brown’s ‘Lie4’ in amongst Yung Lean’s ‘Hurt’ and ‘Drive Slow’ by Kanye West. Electric Sea Spider absolutely mashed his midi controller, producing a roller coaster of industrial soundscapes layered over crisp bass and a heavy smoke haze.
This was the first real glimpse at Friendships’ visual show and it was an entrancing display of psychedelic prisms, crashing over each other as green, blue and violet lights created aura around him.
Grace’s light show here took it up a level as melting orbs of soft vibrant colours rose and fell away. Later, The Harpoons stripped everything back and produced the most intimate set of the day.
Bec Rigby’s voice is known for its commanding qualities but the surrounds took the sensuality to another level, and with her three merry men playing soulful, warm-fuzzy grooves for her to swoon to, it was truly something special.
Using silence to full effect and showcasing the full scope of Rigby’s voice, the set’s highlights included ‘Walk Away’, a track off their upcoming debut album Falling For You, ‘Unforgettable’, and a new jam that “doesn’t even have a name yet” that featured Friendships joining their mates on stage, having a jive and taking on some percussion duties.
Meanwhile, Friendships delivered the titular ultimatexxxperience; a journey, very much like a vortex, sucking you down a rabbit hole to a world where partying during the day seemed normal.
From hard break beats to soft atmospheric layered synths and cowbell, human anatomy was dissected in an array of colour and imagery exploding in front of them on their specially created installation pieces. There was rumour of them being nervous, but that energy was funnelled into a captivating performance. Everyone took advantage of this opportunity and people danced and shuffled, eventually spilling onto the stage with the adventurous taking the pole before RaRa’s own Nate Dixon dropped a cheeky little verse to complete the exhibition.
2fuddah nailed a trap set, complete with ‘Shabba’from A$AP Ferg before closing out the night with industrial duo Forces, where an epic strobe show meant you saw them only in glimmers.
Looking super smooth in all black and hip little round sunglasses, the sharp edges of Forces’ sound was all grinding, deep and effectual. With its hard techno groove and delayed, layered vocals, ‘World In Focus’ was a sight to behold with smoke filling the room and the deep purple lights cutting through to the faces of the crowd.
It solidified one thing, Melbourne’s new age underground was making a statement. They celebrated their music and art as they bathed in the beats, and lavished in everything that is bass music.
It was admittedly a very open space, from the performance stage and the DJ booth to the dungeon-like smokers room, but no matter where you were the music seeped out of the light shades and the strategically placed mirrors; as you looked around you could imagine some of the debauchery of the nights that had gone down between these thick, solid rock walls.
A truly unique experience, pulled of to every last detail, Ultimatexxxperience effortlessly captured its own distinctive vibe for the day. It reminded us that there’s plenty of parties to go to, you just have to know which ones are the best.
This wasn’t just a gig, but a display and experience of visual and audible art, thriving in the alleyways and underpasses of Melbourne.
