High expectations come with buying a ticket to a live DJ set. Unlike a live band, they can’t often interrupt the music to speak to the crowd or ask for an encore. But that’s how Alison Wonderland has gathered a band of followers – with a live show that interweaves top songs of the moment and those you used to love – that makes for a memorable night out.
First support act Willow Beats – the eccentrics of the indie dance scene at the moment – had a chilled set but Oxford Art enjoyed their unique groove.
Next LDRU held his DJ post almost anonymously at the back of the room to keep everyone dancing while holding out for Wonderland. He played many a track from young Sydney producers, as he his also one himself, including Wave Racer and What So Not.
But surely what everyone loves about Alison Wonderland is the sense of nostalgia from hearing old hip-hop tracks like Ludacris’ “Move Bitch” among Kendrick Lamar and the latest dance-floor favourites. She kicked off her set with Disclosure’s “When A Fire Starts To Burn” which set the high-tempo mood for the rest of the night.
Never mind the trippy visuals to match – with two cubes suspended in the air featuring matching graphics alongside a Saturday night lights production. As if that weren’t enough to pump up the crowd, she sent out a huge confetti explosion.
When people choose to watch a DJ set rather than come across it sporadically – it seems like they expect to recognise most of the music. Alison keeps the tracks on for long enough for us to sing along in chorus before moving onto the next track to cure our music ADHD.
Although it was similar to her recent set at Splendour In The Grass, Alison played for slightly longer and it works well in a smaller space. Certainly the lights and lit-up AWD sign amped up her profile and when she bops up and down singing along to the tunes –sometimes with vodka bottle in hand- it’s hard not to catch onto her infectious party vibes.
