As I sit in Los Angeles, on my way to SXSW, the Future Music Festival is making its way around Australia. Thankfully, just before I departed (in dates that continue), those in Sydney and Melbourne were provided with a plethora of sideshows to choose from. On Thursday night in Sydney, in advance of their appearance at Future, we were given Azari & III and The Rapture in one blockbuster showcase at the Metro Theatre.
Unfortunately missing Azari (but hearing fantastic things and kicking myself for doing so…), The Rapture were just starting to make their way onto the stage as I entered the venue; the slick bass lines of “In the Grace of Your Love” (off their new album of the same name) echoing across the room as they entered one by one. Though this would make it the fourth (maybe even fifth) time I had seen the New York based group, it was the first time I’d ever seen them away from an outdoor festival stage. Naturally, I was curious as to how their party-inducing sounds would translate on the more intimate, indoor Metro stage.
It would be fair to say it translated well, with the newer material serving the venue particularly well. The group, eager to please, played an equal splattering off all their records. “Never Gonna Die Again” off Grace was a early highlight, featuring a beautiful dose of saxophone, which would return for “Echoes”, “Gotta Get Myself Into It”, and “How Deep Is Your Love”, which closed out the night’s three song encore. The famous cowbell made its usual appearance in “House of Jealous Lovers” and “The Devil”, and had a great reception.
Also making the cut were the usual suspects: “Piece of the People we Love”, “Woo Alright, Yeah Uh-Huh”, “No Sex For Ben” and early favourite “Killing”. All in all it was an energetic set, though a routine one, that musically won the crowd over and kept us dancing an singing along long after we left the venue. By now I’m sure you’ve all seen these guys at one festival or another (is there anything they haven’t played in Australia?), but I certainly recommend checking them out in more intimate surrounds when you get the opportunity.
