Soft rock, smooth vibes, high fashion, big synths and even bigger hair was the name of the game when Client Liaison took to The Tivoli Theatre stage in Brisbane.
In all, the evening saw no fewer than five costume changes (from mirror ball jackets to giant sequinned robes to flowing fabrics and coats with shoulders so sharp you could take out an eye), a multi-platform stage set-up, crash mats, integrated Australiana/ 1980s graphics, and a highly engaged three-piece supporting band, complete with scene-stealing saxophonist and a bass player who made his way up the left-wing balcony in time to play his solo.
Image © Clea Thorne
It was a compact and polished set that saw Client Liaison run through most of their bigger hits from both their self-titled LP and their 2016 album ‘Diplomatic Immunity’ with tracks like ‘Wild Life’, ‘Off White Limousine’, ‘Queen’, ‘World Of Our Love’ and a particularly well-received rendition of ‘Survival In The City’.
Click here for more photos from the show.
Their showcase of new material was well incorporated, with the tour’s titular track ‘The Real Thing’ getting a good reaction; as did ‘The Beat Supreme’, their epic tribute to what the band have called “the Great Australian Sound”, a homage to bands like Icehouse and Yothu Yindi.
Image © Clea Thorne
The performance of tinkling number ‘Champagne Affection’ was boosted by a touch of class; in this case, the front row being doused with the drop, only after Morgan donned a pair of white gloves to pour the bottle.
The set also included a smattering of covers including late '90s Aussie dance hit ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ by Madison Avenue.
Image © Clea Thorne
Earlier in the evening, Melbourne-based singer/ songwriter Chela opened the show, before rising talent Woodes, also based in Victoria’s capital, but previously from Townsville she gleefully told the crowd, performed her current hits which have been featuring heavily on triple j including ‘Dots’, ‘How Long I’d Wait’ and ‘Silent Disco’.
Woodes - image © Clea Thorne
As a musical entity, Client Liaison have in the past caused some confusion with their throw-back aesthetics and their immersion into a retro lifestyle – are they for real? Are they comedy, or is this a gimmick? But in all of their output, the indie-pop duo – and on this night, their supporting band – are fully committed to the stylised cause and it is lapped up by their fans.
To finish the night, fittingly there were credits rolling as they played their last song of the encore with the punters leaving happy after a full-on production.
