The chosen venue for the Azari & III's most recent Warsaw showing was 1500m2, arguably the best venue for leftfield electronic music in Poland. Recent months have seen the club boast numerous big-name DJ bookings, so a live performance from the Canadians seemed very refreshing, and the addition of Kim Ann Foxman of Hercules & Love Affair as support act made this scenario even better. The headlining quartet from Toronto offered a great alternative to the traditional DJ sets that have dominated the club's roster, and their self-titled debut album seems to be tailor made for live performance.
The New York-based Foxman—a DJ, producer and vocalist—came with a seductive selection of Chicago house. Most tracks were difficult to pin down, but nobody cared too much. Although Foxman remained rather distant and disengaged with the crowd, her mellow music was enough to get people moving. By the time the DJ-set was half through, the dance floor had filled up with an admirable crowd of Azari & III enthusiasts.
Finally, at around 11 PM, Dinamo Azari and Alixander III entered the stage in the company of vocalists Fritz Helder and Cedric Gasiada. The band opened the night with "Hungry For The Power," one of the most powerful tunes in their catalogue, the crowd beginning to buzz with excitement from its opening chords. The band had a clear plan for the show: Azari & III were hidden behind their set-ups, giving space to the musical dialogue between the singers. The looks of the latter were extravagant as should be expected from their videos. Golden chains, sunglasses and hats gave them an air of vintage, singing tête-à-tête while stripping down their clothes, which had the crowd in a frenzy.
Warsaw attendees could feel the spirit in full, thanks to vocalists Helder and Gasiada who invited many people to the stage. This acid house discothèque entered new levels with every new tune. "Manic" and "Reckless (With Your Love)" were no novelty to many, peopling singing the lyrics with delight. It's clear that Madonna made the right choice to book them for her tour this year. The performance in Warsaw came up as a huge power boost amidst the cold winter, making for a night to remember.
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