Live Review: The Jungle Giants, Adi Toohey

There’s a lot of hype around The Jungle Giants right now and plenty of revellers pushed through the iconic clown mouth at Luna Park, taking in the pretty lights as they congregated in the Big Top.

The dancefloor moved from a trickle to a torrent of dancers as local DJ Lex Deluxe lit up the decks, taking the audience on a journey through an eclectic mix of tunes from jungle rhythms to hip hop beats to joyful house.

By the time local legend Adi Toohey took to the stage, the tent heaved with people chatting and grooving. The prolific young Sydney DJ has made her name as an FBi presenter and part of the party collective Rimbombo, but enthusiasts of jazzy house, boogie and subterranean club music always hang out for her live shows. Her set was a melange of upbeat sounds and giddy, rambunctious boogieing.

Flaunting their seasoned approach to indie-pop/rock, the main attraction arrived for the penultimate gig of their Heavy Hearted national tour in support of their recent single. Needless to say, The Jungle Giants delivered, with the audience revelling to each track.

While the gig felt slightly claustrophobic given the heavy security and strict 'No Passouts' posters plastered at the entrance, the youthful audience dabbled in the delights the band whipped up. Crowd pleaser Feel The Way I Do saw the crowd bouncing up and down, buoyed by the screeching synth hook and the polyphonic keys. The shiny guitars and Sam Hales’ effervescent vocals stirred up all kinds of emotions, compounded by the flashing lights. The 2019 single behind this tour, Heavy Hearted, dragged listeners in from the get-go, its simple piano hook fusing with catchy lyrics.

The night was a mishmash of jangly pop, typified by classic tune, She’s A Riot, with its lighthearted vocals and matching instrumentals.