Its in the Stars....
Statler And Waldorf: Live at the MoonBar.

The Empire is undoubtedly one of the few venues in Brisbane to be expected in supplying quality music. With their exceedingly friendly and welcoming staff and fabulous décor, The Empire is extremely successful in establishing an accepting atmosphere and thus encouraging a wonderfully varied demography of attractive and celebratory individuals.

Thus in the congenial confines of The Moonbar on Friday evening, I find the ascent into the heavens appropriate to the reach of Statler and Waldorf’s accomplishments. Feelings of anticipation assailed me as I strode past the bar into the darkness of the dancefloor where I was first confronted by the convivial sounds of DJ Ragit. I thoroughly enjoyed his presence. As the opener to the feature act, Ragit was brilliant at laying down the fitting tracks to establish a warm and hospitable ambience. He achieved this through effecting high melodies, integrating spatial key sounds with synthetic aesthetics and polished by phat bassy beats. Within minutes of his manifestation, bodies were on the dancefloor, dedicating their movements to the praise of the Gods perched above them. I was immediately impressed by the obvious might in his biceps as he superbly mixed beats against melodies. No claims to the pretentious, the multifaceted simplicity of Ragit was a welcoming start to what was already promising to be a wonderful night.

DJ Ragit hinted at his impending departure, playing a remix of Rez by Underworld, and consequently prompting the feature duo to spontaneously embrace. This served to excite the audience further, for it signalled an introduction to the magic of S&W. A considerate Dri informed me this was also the very tune that sparked the beginnings of Statler and Waldorf. It was in the air: the stars for S&W had been predetermined by the might of destiny; a duly fortuitous start.

And thus Statler and Waldorf unfastened the ties on their mammoth talents; exposing the guts of their inner recesses to their admiring masses. People were dancing immediately – not merely a few either. The dancefloor was suddenly inundated with bodies, though I believe it was due to an inner compulsion. The music of S&W was akin to the inescapable subliminal call of a siren; beckoning with the maddening allure of seduction and all the practise of obligation. As the music of S&W washed over me, my mind’s eye conjured up images of James Bond or scenes from Mission Impossible; I even expected a Cold War battle to erupt in front of me; such was the stimuli of the music. It was hypnotically minimal, obliquely rhythmic and uniquely aesthetic; A commendable sonic blueprint for the impetus of an up and coming act.

Dennis as the melodic partner of the duo, performed with gusto. Usually an introverted personality, the heights of the stage clearly transformed this generally reserved person into a Rock Star. His eyes glittered with the ethereal burning desire of an artiste, encouraging the crowd to respond to his patter. The effects implemented towards his vocals were outstanding; truly professional. The performance was of such exceptional quality, it was extremely difficult to realise it was live; though Dennis’ exuberance was a convincing reminder. He poked at his Novation SuperNova keyboard, producing some beautifully subtle spatial sounds; these sounds served to enhance the beauty of the transparent melodies. My only objection was a simple desire to have the vocals up further in the mix. At times, Dennis’ vocals were lost amongst the heavy and often intricate textures of the rhythms and melodies, though this in no way detracted from the quality of the performance.

Leo, as the Rhythm Master, transformed into an entirely different beast. Though he usually denies his role in the act as being significant, his presence indisputably serves as the prominent foundation upon which Statler and Waldorf proudly stand. I was amazed at the change in his personality. Gone was any insecurity or timidity; all diffidences replaced with a firm assurance and unyielding fortitude. His attention was solely fixated upon the modules in front of him, though he often had the time to flash a few smiles at the admiring girls hovering near him. Leo appeared the commander of this starship; the leading synthesis of the sonic blueprint. However, his beatmixing did not often come out exactly on time; his intended accents for beat one being rather tardy or coming in slightly too early. If he was aiming to set up a sense of anticipation with his mixing, his sense of timing did not make full use of this strategy. Nevertheless, his beats were bass-y without being too harsh or flashy. In fact, the entire layout of the music strove to seamlessly meld and fuse within itself; nothing severely stood out. The music was so beautifully integrated that it was insinuating and suggestive rather than being direct and upfront. If I had to be unhappy with anything, it was simply a desire to hear far more of the sounds. A lone speaker to the left of the performers served as the prevailing outlet. The position of this speaker would have definitely served to enhance the aural (and visual) aspect of the performance had it been located directly in front of S&W.

I daresay Dennis and Leo are feeling particularly proud of themselves – as they should be. With a successful performance behind them, an impending music clip to be shot this coming weekend, as well as the guarantee of the upcoming Statler and Waldorf album, there seems only positive and assured times predicted. Perhaps it is in the stars. Perhaps the pattern of destiny is asserting itself to meld into the music of Statler and Waldorf. Either way, take the chance and follow the pre-determined path of Statler and Waldorf. It can only add to the splendour already in your life. www.statlerandwaldorf.com.au – a headstart to the inevitable.

Love and Kisses, Lady Lex