Live Review: Poloshirt

It must be hard to give your band an original name in 2018. Some go to extreme lengths to make their band easily Google-able, while others have just given up completely by naming their group something like Poloshirt.

But in defence of the name Poloshirt, the moniker makes perfect sense considering the history of this crowd-pleasing collaboration. A hybrid band consisting of members from Winston Surfshirt and Sydney duo Polographia, Poloshirt is just a good time for anyone that's ever enjoyed the more erotic side of funk, reggae or hip hop. With samplers galore, incredible six-string bass playing and an electric frontman, Poloshirt have all the right ingredients to take their sex-obsessed brand of music up to the big leagues.

The main man on the mic this evening, known only as Winston, was born with a voice that's perfect for this kind of music. A natural tenor who makes heavy use of modern R&B's falsetto style, Winston is also capable of reaching down into Prince's territory by imitating that classic purple baritone to good effect. The room loses their mind over him Winston loves every moment of it, addressing the crowd in a Jamaican patois and constantly feeling himself up while reaching for those higher notes.

On the screen behind him and the rest of the group is a scrolling panorama of sunny visuals with an '80s aesthetic that seems to be ripped straight from the shores of Vice City. Since this gig has such a strong sense of friendship and playing nice with others, punters were overjoyed to see opening acts Price J and Nasty Mars joining the main band for a few songs. Particular attention should be given to Price J, a soul singer with sunflowers in her hair and a voice that could have fit into any of these songs tonight.

"Alroight, we gonna do one more song, then it's time to go home!" announces Winston in his London accent before a very familiar, high-pitched sample comes screeching across the venue along with a plodding bass line."Insane in the fuckin' brain, cunt!!" yells one bloke, clearly on the verge of an orgasm, from the back of the crowd. Who needs Shazam when you've got oldmate? Rapping his heart out to the Cypress Hill classic and bringing Price J and the others back on stage, Winston and the rest of the gang sent the sold-out crowd home in spectacular fashion.