CONFIDENCE MAN & MIND ENTERPRISES
What Confidence Man do is some distance from my usual tastes but – as with Self Esteem –the music is different and strange enough to appeal to me whilst being dance-oriented pop enough to appeal to the mainstream and keep this crowd groovin’ like loons.
Now, I’ve got to be honest, electropop - a select few acts aside - is not my usual bag. I’m here because one of my fellow Outliners can’t make it and well, it’s gotta be good to stretch one’s boundaries doesn’t it?
MIND ENTERPRISES is the solo project of Andrea Tirone. Tonight, Tirone (vox/keys) it joined by a gentleman wearing the shortest pair of shorts this side of an 80s footballer on synth drums and keys. To me, with my limited knowledge of the genre, the music has a distinctly Italian house feel, unsurprising given Tirone was raised in Turin. There’s not a lot of action on stage but the beats are surprisingly heavy, there’s some interesting melodies and Tirone is a decent vocalist. For the most part, this is music to lose yourself in and get dancing. At least that distracts from those shorts…
Brisbane electropop band CONFIDENCE MAN certainly make up for the lack of on stage action from Mind Enterprises. Clarence McGuffie (drums) and Reggie Goodchild (keys) look like refugees from Snapped Ankles crossed with Sia and Orville Pec. Front duo of Janet Planet and Sugar Bones engage in high energy dance moves throughout and there are multiple costume changes – a light-up conical bra! light-up shoulder pads! ten gallon hat! animal skin print! – to up the visual intensity.
Planet and Bones take to stage for Toy Boy in oversized suits a la David Byrne circa Stop Making Sense. Shoulder movements that are exaggerated by those big jackets enhance the synchronised dance moves. Planet and Bones lose the jackets for Out the Window. Of the seventeen song set, highlights includes the B52s style vox of What I Like, the high energy Does It Make You Feel Good complete with lush (if taped) backing vocals, Village People YMCA-style dancing in C.O.O.L Party and ska-inflected instrumental Trumpet Song. Don't You Know I'm in a Band is a mash-up of Aqua, Right Said Fred and Propellerheads that shouldn’t work but smashes it.
What Confidence Man do is some distance from my usual tastes but – as with Self Esteem –the music is different and strange enough to appeal to me whilst being dance-oriented pop enough to appeal to the mainstream and keep this crowd groovin’ like loons.
You know what, maybe I need to see more of this pop malarkey?
