Live Review: Hiatus Kaiyote, Kirkis

The roof over the dreamy garden oasis is closed at Howler tonight. Since there's some seriously good shit about to go down – aka week one of Hiatus Kaiyote's May residency – it's probably best to keep a lid on it before all hell breaks loose. DJ Chris Gill from Northside Records spins some funky vinyl while the punters wander in. Kirkis then pounds out their head-bopping, shoulder-popping, fast-paced beats. Frontman/bass player Matthew Kirkis leads the six-piece band with alternating incarnations across the set: sometimes two vocalists, sometimes one and sometimes none when funky instrumentals boom forth. Ambient soul with touches of jazz makes for luscious experimental sounds that the crowd embrace and enjoy. 

Chris Gill then turns MC for Beat Battle: three-DJ mix-off championship for the best remixed Kirkis track. A crowd eager for Hiatus Kaiyote half-heartedly vote for the winner. Although a cool idea, Beat Battle feels like an unnecessary delay when set times are already running late.

Punters surge close to the stage ready and waiting for the main attraction. The heat is palpable enough to make the sweat start dripping and sends one poor fainting dude to the floor. Hiatus Kaiyote finally start letting loose their intricate, rhythmic, feverish sounds. Lead vocal/guitarist Nai Palm's soft white face is decorated with glitter, black dots and a silver chain that connects her nose and ear piercings. No less than five videographers circle the stage to capture the action. Their song Nakamarra, which is the only Australian R&B song to ever score a Grammy nomination, is received with whoops of delight. The elated looks passing between keys player Simon Mavin, drummer Perrin Moss and bass man Paul Bender are also a pleasure to watch throughout the set. Nai Palm sings with her whole face, pale blue eyes wide in exertion as she gets lost in her own intoxicating jam. The band debut a new song here in the safety of a home crowd because, the frontlady says, “We know we can trust you, Melbourne.”  

After 60 incredible minutes of wild, rhythmic, frenetic future soul, the show closes with The World It Softly Lulls, a song Nai Palm dedicates to the silver tooth she's getting next week to mark her 25th birthday. Catch them up close throughout this Wednesday residency before they're rightfully embraced by the R&B/soul elite worldwide. Total magic guaranteed.