Live Review: Client Liaison, Luke Million

As we walk up Collins Street, we can't help but notice the off-white limousine parked out the front of Athenaeum Theatre. The red carpet has been rolled out and it's obvious that Client Liaison arrived in style. We receive a big red stamp on our wrist that grants us "Diplomatic Immunity" and enter the venue. This theatre couldn't be more perfect for tonight's headliner and the seating has been removed so there's plenty of room to dance.

Luke Million turns the funk up as he welcomes us to his disco universe of irresistible electronic synth. He flicks off his bomber jacket to unveil a vintage '80s keytar that excites the audience with every cosmic note. His new song Back To The Rhythm featuring Sam Sparro is one hell of a tune and keeps everyone grooving from start to finish. The lights flash red as a pulsating, eerie synth strikes up for Million's extended remix of the Stranger Things theme; it's deep, dark and pretty fucking epic. Million then calls female vocalist Auriel to the stage to lend some dreamy vocals on a couple of songs including the contagious Light & Sound. "Let me hear you say MORE ENERGY!" he shouts as his set continues to elevate the dancefloor with Arnold. His "down, up" dance moves soon spread like wildfire and we join in by imitating a few bicep curls.

The stage's curtain lifts to reveal a set that looks like an '80s office complete with giant water coolers and plants. Pyros detonate during big opener Canberra Won't Be Calling Tonight. "Collins Street we're, here for you... We are Client Liaison!" frontman Monte Morgan shouts. The group is decked out in matching cream-coloured suits featuring applique: the Australian coat of arms, boomerangs, cockatoos, wattle and even Parliament House - a must-have outfit for any serious businessman in Melbourne's CBD.

"Don't fight the feeling, if it feels good inside then it's alright!" Morgan assures us as they continue with Feeling and give in to the music. They keep us cruising with Hotel Stay and, before we have a chance to pull out our camera phones, to our surprise, the end of Morgan's electric guitar becomes a giant sparkler from which pyros explode. The onstage phone rings and Harvey Miller AO gets a 'call' from the ATO over speakerphone. "Sorry, wrong number," he tells the caller as he hangs up and jumps right into Feed The Rhythm. The strobes flash and next minute Miller appears on the balcony and fist-bumps Tom Tilley and his bandmates below.

Client Liaison break out the ice-cold Fosters from the backstage cool room and hand a few tinnies out to punters in the front row. They blast a cover of Armand Van Helden's You Don't Know Me and, just when we think it can't get any more nostalgic, they drop a cover of Savage Garden's I Want You in a moment of '90s glory. There's a lot of love circulating and, appropriately, World Of Our Love serves as the big finale — complete with smoke cannons.

As we exit the theatre, Daryl Braithwaite's The Horses blasts through the speakers and we all belt out the lyrics. Many begin to queue for the shuttle bus to the after-party or, for a lucky few, a VIP ride in the super-fly limousine.