Live Review: Client Liaison, Luke Million

Walking up to The Gov on a crisp April night in Adelaide, an off-white limousine greeted punters, resplendent in '90s decadence. On the last night of their sold out Diplomatic Immunity tour, Client Liaison pulled out all the stops in terms of theatrics - even the entry stamp granted the crowd their own 'diplomatic immunity'. The merchandise on offer was elaborate by any standards; lapel pins, glasses straps, and a variety of socks. Bar staff were dressed in '90s corporate attire, a stark difference to the usual black and red for the venue. Even some among the crowd wore their most comfortable parachute pants and luxe office power dresses.

Returning to a gracious home crowd, Luke Million's heavy bass and well-rounded synth echoed throughout the bandroom. Joined on stage by vocalist Auriel at points, Million had the eager crowd eating out of his hand during tunes such as Light & Sound and Fear The Night. It was his smash hit version of the Stranger Things Theme that plunged the room into a dark foreboding before his chants of "more energy!" led into the effervescence of Arnold,with the crowd bobbing down and up, respectively. Million's energetic opening provided an ideal limbering up for the dance-offs to come.

Since previous tours, Client Liaison have upped the ante in regards to props - enormous water cooler lights, LED-lit office furniture, plants, and an old Mac. The Australian flag sat proudly atop the desk space, and Enya's Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) set the mood for a late '80s office party. Founding members Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller AO exploded onto the stage in a flurry of custom-made lemon suits emblazoned with Australiana patches and embroidery - Parliament House, frill-necked lizards, Telecom, and koalas. Morgan also wore large dangly earrings reminiscent of the era. Opener Canberra Won't Be Calling Tonight saw the duo embrace their onstage personas, with Morgan sashaying across the stage, throwing his arms and the mic at every opportunity. Earlier hits Pretty Lovers and Feeling saw the duo joined by Morgan's brother Geordie on guitar and triple j's Tom Tilley on bass, also donning the bespoke suits. Morgan introduced a didgeridoo solo, while telling the crowd to "Think nothing. Feel everything," an homage to their late '80s - early '90s utopian inspiration.

Tight choreography (that would have put George Michael to shame) paired with The Purple One vocals followed throughout Hotel Stay, Feed The Rhythm, and That's Desire. The bass lines were reminiscent of INXS and the production was tight. Tilley, Geordie and Morgan crisscrossed legs while traversing the stage, pulling schmoozy poses juxtaposed with serious faces. A phone call from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) was then taken by Miller - seemingly regarding their latest tax evasion - and Tilley ran off stage to bring out a slab of Fosters to share with the 'lucky' punters near the front. The funk of Off White Limousine saw Morgan stripped down to metallic pants and just a feathered necklace, his intense eyes locking with the audience. Two members of the crowd were invited to take a ride in their limousine to the after party, before launching into a well-timed cover of Savage Garden's 1997 classic I Want You.

The sweaty crowd demanded an encore, which contained Queen and huge single World Of Our Love. Morgan emerged with a bunch of roses to hand out to the crowd; first one-by-one and then all at once. Luke Million jumped on stage for the closing moments, clearly lapping up the heaving dancefloor that had formed. When the house lights came on, Daryl Braithwaite's classic Horses boomed over the speakers, inducing a huge singalong as the crowd dispersed. Client Liaison have clearly grown in popularity, professionalism and theatrics, and they gave the crowd an immersive experience to which Bob Hawke would raise a schooner or two.