Live Review: Hermitude & Jonti

Hermitude

Jonti enjoyably self jams from his electronic capsule, from running brass from his beat pad and crooning on the mic, to stepping out to the side of the stage to rock out on his oil can guitar, returning to remove his sweaty beanie to dance to some jungle beats and then having some Reason playtime. The chilled out, early crowd seem to still be absorbing the performance, pausing briefly after each track before applauding. The Sydney-based South African ends his set with some J Dilla, snapping his way through a hip hop medley, setting a nice scene for the journey ahead.

Hermitude enter to cheers and a few Xena calls. El Gusto knocks out on the pad hanging from his neck as Luke Dubs raises his hands and nods his head, hyping up the now packed floor, then jumps in apps-style from his iPad chain. They then get behind their work station and with a “Brisbane we back!”, drop the bluesy sample of All Of You which has everyone  grooving to the keys then losing their heads to the cosmic synths. Dubs starts the mesmeric keys of Can't Stop while Gusto scratches in and just as the crowd enters a steady stupor he mixes to drum and bass. They seamlessly move across their station with crazy fingers, taking turns on the pad, tweaking and playing as the entire venue move their bodies along.

The HyperParadise showcase starts with everyone singing along to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, then it's hands raising up and down as the beat drops and the calypso synths come in. After some lengthy keyboard mashing they decide to “pick up the tempo” and switch up to the remix which “goes out to our homie Flume”. Feet are now stomping as the footage from the four go pros attached to their station flickers from the crowd to their hand work, to the stage set. This collaborative energy continues through to Get In My Life which has everyone shouting out, “Run the track!” to another round-the-neck jam, this time with Gusto on the iPad and Dubs even throwing in some behind-his-head steaze on the keys. After all that overstimulation they go classical with the calmative Frayed which has a few fans happy to hear an old friend, then switch the mood again this time with some '80s hip hop and ragga while Gusto gives a scratch showcase.

The crowd is now singing to Speak Of The Devil, then obeying by putting middle fingers up in the air for The Villain as Hermitudes' newest clip is projected. Then, as a perfect cool down to tonight's mid-week escape, they encore with the placid Cloud City which, in true Hermitude style, somehow has everyone's hands raised and shouting back, “Hell yeah!”.