Live Review: AlunaGeorge, Fortunes

9 January 2017 | 1:35 pm | Michael Prebeg

"Every time I play in this country the power shuts off, maybe I'm too hot," she jokes.

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Fortunes give us Energy and other songs about everyday observations such as when you notice someone wearing a great pair of jeans. We certainly notice lead singer Conor McCabe's matching shorts and shirt with eye-catching comic book-inspired print. They casually create some fresh and groovy hip hop tunes with a really smooth flow and their delivery is effortless. The crowd is dancing along in no time at all. Fortunes finish with a ballad about going to work and being unable to focus, and most of us can totally relate as we reach the end of the week.

AlunaGeorge is currently on a national tour around Australia and frontwoman Aluna Francis tells us, "I've been here so long now that I feel Australian and I feel at home here with you." This one-off, sold-out Falls sideshow in Melbourne has a very different feel to the usual festival set and, with a live band, she's ready. However, after only three songs the band lose power so Francis improvises and takes a moment to sing Happy Birthday to an audience member in the front row. She then tells us she's leaving the stage to get some tequila until things are sorted out. "Every time I play in this country the power shuts off, maybe I'm too hot," she jokes. They're back up and running soon enough, though, and Francis continues with plenty of attitude on Mean What I Mean.

Attracting Flies is dedicated to anyone who has ever tried to get back with someone, while Not Above Love is about being wrapped around someone's finger "in a weird psychosis of love", as Francis explains. A drum interlude follows and seems to really help her get into the zone for the next few tracks. Draping a red flowing cape around her shoulders and over her boxing attire, Francis looks as if she's ready for a fight. She puts the hood over her head during My Blood and becomes an unstoppable force of nature.

Starting off I Remember a cappella, Francis allows the audience to take the choruses. The response is huge and it almost brings Francis to tears. We're all encouraged to put our hands up and remember someone we've lost, which is touching. They slow it down a bit with Mediator and Diver for all the fans that enjoy AlunaGeorge's softer side. Then they turn it up and bring the party on their popular collaborations with Disclosure, Jack Ü and Baauer.

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For the encore, the crowd absolutely lose it as I'm In Control unleashes. "Who's in control?" she asks as everyone shouts in unison, "I'm In Control!" Francis poses for us, somewhat like a page boy, before serving up AlunaGeorge's last song: You Know You Like It. She incorporates DJ Snake's popular remix as everyone jumps around to the infectious beat.