Live Review: Expo Liaison

For those who were around in the '80s, cast your mind back to a Brisbane of that time as the world turned its attention to Queensland’s capital for Expo '88. 30 years on and in a homage to the era, the town was treated to Expo 2.0, this time led by Client Liaison.

After the week that was in Aus Pol, confirming that indeed Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight, Expo Liaison proved to be the perfect escape from the bickerings of rich old men. Victoria Park was transported back to a time that proved more really is more as the masses assembled in form, dusting off the power suits and snow gear ready for a party of epic proportions.

The much-needed rain that fell from the heavens earlier in the day had stopped and as we entered the gates, our moods were instantly dignified. The woodchop proved to be a crowd favourite as the Foster’s started flowing and we gave a nod to infamous businessmen Rene Rivkin and Christopher Skase through some liquid assets.

NO ZU kicked off the music on the last leg of the festival tour with a set of funky rhythms, complete with brass section. The eight-piece showed that everyone loves a good sax solo and a smattering of faithful punters started the day’s groove in style.

It wouldn’t be an '80s affair without Luke Million and his remix of the Stranger Things theme, complete with an audiovisual montage. The producer got the crowd moving down and up with fan favourite Arnold and we gave him and his keytar “MORE ENERGY!” Also joining Million on stage was KLP on her birthday (cue mass Happy Birthday singalong) for Amnesia and Bag Raider’s ever-present Shooting Stars.

Alice Ivy was pure energy on stage, bouncing around, vibing off “how loose Brisbane is” with trademark macarena moves. As Get Me A Drink played out, one punter obligingly offered an inflatable beer into the air and we knew that Ivy and Brisbane could Be Friends.

Total Giovanni’s set is plagued by technical issues but that doesn’t stop the band, or the crowd for that matter, grooving along to their feel-good vaporwave jams. All in white, love was in the air as the band closed the set with Can’t Control My Love and punters gave it back willingly.

After a quick sojourn on the dodgem cars, it was time for the main event; the main men themselves, who had carefully curated the day's festivities — ice sculpting and fashion line included. A stage book-ended with water coolers gave a new meaning to business-casual and when Harvey, Monte and co hit the stage with dancers carrying desk phones, we knew we were in for a night that was international in flavour and cosmopolitan in style.

Making their way through a set with all the classic Client Liaison live show stalwarts, punters are treated to an onslaught of pyrotechnics, smoke machines, confetti and costume changes. The set featured a number of covers included INXS’s Need You Tonight inspiring Hutchence level gyrating, The Preatures’ Cruel and Sophie B Hawkins' iconic power ballad Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover. Notoriously meticulous, the show can seem at times contrived but god damn it is a lot of fun.

As the set pulsed on, it is clear by decibel alone, the crowd are there for one man and one man only; Mr John Farnham. Introduced as one of the band’s biggest inspirations and musical heroes, Farnsey takes the show to another level through a trio of Pressure Down, Age Of Reason and do I really need to introduce the third? Not a mouth isn’t open in woah-oh-oh-oh-derment as Farnham proves he is still the voice of the nation.

Closing the night is a DJ set from John Howard complete with a green and gold tracksuit and scarily realistic mask. As we boogie along to a set of hits, there is the cruel reminder that the Howard was the last PM in the country to serve a full term. And as the existential crisis loomed overhead, there was nothing to do but dance and invest, invest, invest in this exhibitionist world of Client Liaison’s love.