The Brag

ARTS VS SCIENCE, TIM & JEAN, JINJA SAFARI
Metro Theatre
Saturday August 21

Jinja Safari win the hearts of the swelling crowd instantly, with a high-energy set boasting frenetic bongos and the boys ricocheting across the stage like beach balls. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and there are crowd clap-alongs before we even reach 9pm. A pretty cracking start to the night. Tim & Jean follow, with an earnest and enjoyable performance – but for the most part remain hunched over keyboards (why are they always so low?), thrashing their dishevelled manes in dreary unison. After the antics of Safari this feels a bit flat, but they finish on a high with their synth-tastic single ‘Come Around’.  And all of a sudden it’s headliner time…

Skinny jeans? Tick. Infectious dance beats? Tick. Random but catchy lyrics? Tick. Girls-just-wanna-have-fun attitude? Tick. Inflatable penguin? Biiiiig tick. Art vs Science give the people what they want, but quite apart from being sooo Gen Y right now, there’s a great deal of unexpected substance to their live act.  For a start it’s 100% live, and in an increasingly laptop dominated dance scene that’s both refreshing and commendable. And despite the skinny jeans and ties, the boys know how to make a fat sound, setting a deliciously heavy tone early on that’s driven by deep chunky synths and powerhouse drumming from Dan W.

“It’s good to be home!” roars Dan Mac at the start of the set, and all present go predictably ballistic. There’s nothing so satisfying as being the home crowd. Art vs Science make up for a relatively small repertoire by demonstrating a level of showmanship beyond their years; they go that bit further to make the night memorable. Mac disappears off stage mid-song, for instance, only to reappear amongst the audience, laying a high-five on a neighbouring fan and then delivering an absolutely face-melting guitar solo.

Against the backdrop of a no-expenses-spared laser show, the trio unpack all their big hits in style – including a savage new track, ‘Higher’, and the ‘Boom (Shake The Room)’ cover which first surfaced at Splendour (and went down a treat there too). The night ended with their breakthrough hit ‘Flippers’, during which the customary inflatable penguin emerged on stage and found its way into the crowd (at which point Dan Mac sheepishly requested we throw it back please. Heaps rockstar.) The set was one big party, and in the amplified words of the band, “We don’t want it to end!”

Jordan Smith