Live Review: Confidence Man, Lex Deluxe

Crafting the funkiest beats since Girl Talk, Sydney DJ Lex Deluxe gets the party started with her feel-good mixes of soul, funk, disco and boogie tunes. As comfortable with eras as she is genres, Lex Deluxe seamlessly transitions from one to the next without batting an eyelid.

About an hour in, two people dressed in black with beekeeper hats appear out of nowhere as the dancefloor really starts pumping. The precedent has been set and the gauntlet thrown down.

Rising stars Confidence Man are quickly becoming one of the most exciting big-beat artists going around and have had a whirlwind 18 months. With two sold-out Australian East Coast tours and three trips to the UK/Europe, including sets at Splendour In The Grass and Glastonbury, the Brisbane electronic outfit have built quite the live reputation for themselves.

Coming out to Kool & The Gang's Jungle Boogie blaring over the speakers, the back-up musicians - Reggie Goodchild and Clarence McGuffie - arrive onstage first, wearing trademark black beekeeper hats. They head to their respective instruments and start jamming, before Janet Planet and Sugar Bones eventually make their triumphant entrance into second single, Bubblegum. 

Right from the outset, we know we are in for a high-octane show with the pair parading around on stage, exhibiting their trademark dance moves that are semi-choreographed while still seeming totally natural. Moving at a blistering pace, Confidence Man play through debut album Confident Music For Confident People, smoothly transitioning from Try Your Luck to Better Sit Down Boy without drawing breath. 

Leaving the stage at various points to make some minor wardrobe adjustments, Confidence Man's back-up musicians are given time to shine and prove themselves more than worthy, holding down the tightest of grooves. Drummer Clarence McGuffie is tight, but it's keyboardist/DJ/producer Reggie Goodchild who has the most important role in the engine room, ensuring this groove train doesn't suddenly derail. From light-up bras and shoulder pads to the flashing, colourful images on the projector screen on the stage's back wall and a meticulously arranged lighting design, there is never a dull moment throughout and the show is just downright sexy. 

All of a sudden, we're at the end, and of course Confidence Man save the best until last, launching into the first single Boyfriend (Repeat) while sending us into a frenzy of flailing limbs and synchronised dance moves. Well, not quite. Confidence Man re-emerge to play their latest euphoric single Out The Window. And, just like that, the coolest party of the year is over.