- Touring on the back of their latest album ‘Love Box’, the celebrated return of Groove Armada to the shores of Australia was a show worth catching, for lovers of down tempo and funky, booty house alike. Performing as an eight-piece ensemble, the group were ready to show of the intricacy of their sound to a packed house on the first night of two shows at the elaborate Metro complex.
Being a visitor to Melbourne, I’ve never been to the Metro, so it was with quiet glee that I entered the building and admired the ornate walls and tiered balconies banking back from a moderate sized dance floor that was already filling up with eager punters. My friends and I decided on a visual spot for the evening, making our way up and around the different stairs and bars, having a drink and enjoying the tunes from tonight’s guest DJ Jason Bye. By the time we had gathered some drinks and picked a good visual spot, the floor beneath us was packed. As much as I would have liked to be down on the floor having a boogie, I could see that for the sardines on the floor, that wasn’t an option.
The band entered the stage to be greeted with exuberant energy and noise from the crowd. I imagine seeing three floors of people above you might be an intimidating experience for some, but the band launched directly into a steady groove that belied any nervousness. With crisp keyboards, sharp guitars, firm drums and percussion, all rooted within a steady deep bass, the sound was clear and precise as the band launched into tunes predominantly from their last two albums. Different musicians came and left the stage throughout the set, however the group pleased the audience most when they were treated with vocals from Sunshine Anderson and MC M.A.D.
A tight set of thirteen tunes ending on the floor rattling ‘Superstylin’ (gotta say it’s the first time I’ve seen a live group grant a rewind!), the Groove Armada Octet displayed an engaging an insightful performance which showed how a party can really groove. And combined with a backdrop of sexy swirling images, it’s the best show I’ve seen in a while, definitely up there with last years sublime performance from Faithless. Nice one!