Live Review: San Cisco, Citizen Kay, Brave

26 November 2014 | 11:06 am | Alex Michael

ARIA parties aren’t meant to be this good, but The Music/MGM's was at Oxford Art Factory.

More San Cisco More San Cisco

It must be ARIA Week, because all three bands played with a passion and invigoration that was surely influence by a strong desire to impress the punters and industry somebodies in the crowd.

Brave kicked off the set with a low-key, powerful performance. Understated in its brilliance, not its effectiveness. The iconic producer has been steadily building a really good name for himself and last night, in front of a packed, buzzing crowd surely won’t do any damage to that. New single What About Me? was a stand out, simple solo keys kicked the track off, before it exploded into tight, rhythmic drumming and commanding mid range vocals. “What about me?” he sang to a room chocked with more than a few big industry names. They were surely taking that proposition on board after such a killer set.

Citizen Kay must have been fretting backstage about how he was going to follow such a tight opening set. Possibly toying with whether or not to wear his “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that” hat. He had no choice but to wear it, needing to do something to stamp his mark. Much to his surprise it wasn’t the extravagant hat that people weren’t ready for. What they weren’t ready for was to be blown away by one of the most impassioned hip hop sets all year. Kay couldn’t stand still, flying across stage on his hypothetical hover board, every lyric thrown at the audience as if he was speaking directly to them. The Oxford Art Factory has to be commended for it’s lighting performance as well, which bathed the young upstart in shimmering, pulsating beams.

The mid-set masterpiece Chosen was hands down the best track of the night. Coldplay-esque synth gave way to tight, boom-clap kick and snare and brilliant vocal delay. Then there’s that chorus, soaked in blue siren lights, Kay was down on his knees, real feels, as the Benjamin Joseph falsetto melted everyones hearts and minds.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

San Cisco had it easy then, rarely is a crowd warmed up so convincingly by support acts. Even the boisterous MC on the night had to quickly write some new puns in order to aptly reflect how damned impressed he was. The band certainly didn’t take anybody for granted though, rolling with their compact, boom-box raised firmly in the air ditties. Lead single Awkward had everybody dancing, but the set was no one-trick pony. They continued to bombard everybody with their contagious toe tappers, and endearingly awkward banter. Before anybody knew it, it was 10:30pm, the night was over (it was a Tuesday after all) and everybody was left equal parts impressed and bemused.

ARIA parties aren’t meant to be this good.