Live Review: Donny Benet, Jackie Brown Jr

Sydney indie-rock band Jackie Brown Jr put in a valiant effort to keep the crowd entertained ahead of Donny Benet’s Friday night headline show. They’re just starting to work on their sound and stage presence – it’s not there yet, but the incorporation of Madeleine Mallis’ sax separates them from every other burgeoning vanilla-indie band vying for triple j airplay. Their use of deeply Sydney references in closer Minimum Wage - an unreleased track off their forthcoming EP - was a set standout. 

Donny Benet kicked off his set with Working Out – a super fun way to start the show, although the crowd were a bit reluctant to start dancing immediately. Benet is an incredible bass player, and it’s that, his charisma and his sense for deep kitsch that kept the audience in thrall. It’s all wonderfully ’80s-style pop, tinged by a lounge/jazz/Italian disco influence and held together by totally necessary and flawless sax solos alongside Benet’s smooth and sultry persona.

Every song is a ‘come hither’ song, designed to seduce while being deeply funny, and self-aware. Benet gave the crowd a sneaky grin and rhythmic shrug every time he was about to knock out another groovy bass solo. He was able to totally inhabit the spotlight, panting and flirting with the audience, thanks to the accomplished backing of his super impressive band. 

The show was heavy on songs from this year’s The Don, mixed with old favourites like the title track from 2011’s Don’t Hold Back and the song that first made us fall in love with his unabashed ‘80s sound, Sophisticated Lover. As the set picked up, the crowd began to really dance along to tracks like Konichiwa and Santorini. Benet closed with an encore of The Girls Of Japan and You’ll Find Love Again to rapturous applause.