For anyone looking for a serotonin boost on Tuesday night in Glasgow, the Royal Concert Hall was the place to be.
An unlikely venue for a rave, the largely seated Concert Hall is known for hosting orchestras and Celtic Connections – not one of the UK’s most definitive dance acts of the last thirty years. However, with space filled out for a dancefloor, there was no one more prepared for encouraging the Glasgow crowd to let loose, get on their feet and throw their hands in the air more than Basement Jaxx duo Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe.
Returning from a ten-year hiatus from full band live duties, the pair wasted little time in injecting a carnival-like atmosphere into the venue, zipping from one huge anthem to another with an infectious joe de vivre and youthful vibrancy.
The brassy ‘Good Luck’ opened proceedings, before ‘Bingo Bango’ and ‘Jump N Shout’ got the majority of the crowd on their feet and dancing. And no expense was spared in the striking on-stage production. The duo, placed in a hole in the centre of the stage, were flanked by an array of dancers, backing singers and a trumpeter, with drums and percussion side of stage. And the visuals were every bit as ambitious, transforming the venue into a colourful, sci-fi dream – with audacious costumes and flashing futuristic images of space, pyramids and more. It was a sensory overload in the best way.
All of this provided the perfect accompaniment to their heady mix of house, garage, punk, and soul, all anchored by a relentless percussive drive which added a primal, infectious and utterly joyous energy to their huge tunes.
With the brilliant Lisa Kekaula showcasing her mighty soul vocals throughout, the duo’s ability to combine infectious melodies with huge beats is undeniable – and they delivered a fine run of 90s and 2000s anthems like ‘Do Your Thing’, ’Romeo’ and ‘Oh My Gosh’ that reminded us of their sheer impact as a live act. They may have been DJing for the last ten years, but this is where the band’s appeal really lies. From the smooth choreographed ‘Just 1 Kiss’ to the muscular ‘Romeo’ to the fun groove of ‘Take Me Back To Your House’, the rhythm on display was pure magic.
There was plenty of wackiness and eccentricity too – from the relentless club-friendly ‘Techno Pumper’ and “Where’s Your Head At’, which saw several apes clamber onto the stage and unleash pure chaos.
With the carnival atmosphere carrying right through to the samba-inspired encore of ‘Bambina’, it was a party to remember. Basement Jaxx may be veterans of the scene but their ability to conjure this kind of atmosphere is unmatched. An electrifying start to the week that would carry you right through to the weekend.
