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If anyone knows how to throw a party it’s Sydney’s Tom Loud. Hot Dub Time Machine is the musical time travelling project started by the DJ back in 2011, with the aim of each show to be ‘the best party ever’. It’s an ambitious statement to make, and one he effortlessly lives up to.

Since its 2011 launch at The Adelaide Fringe, this “dance through the decades” audiovisual party has developed into a worldwide phenomenon. After a sell-out 2017 beginning with Falls Festival, and ending with Hot Dub Wine Machine, Tom returned to his favourite venue in his favourite city for two shows over the weekend to celebrate his journey. With a full two – three hour set, Tom hit the decks with an old school Hot Dub experience for his Adelaide fans, providing an intimate headline show that channels his success, yet still pays homage to this humble project that began 7 years ago. It’s clear that after the drama of Hot Dub Wine Machine last December, Tom brought Hot Dub back to Adelaide in an attempt to apologise for that short one hour set and in true Hot Dub style the DJ didn’t disappoint.

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The night started off with a set from Adelaide local, Tink, spinning a range of tunes to get the crowd ready for Hot Dub. Although they didn’t seem to pay much attention to Tink herself, her set list ranging from Missy Elliot to Flume, got the crowd moving and ready for the party to commence.

At the two minute mark waiting for Tom, The Thebby Theatre filled with the sound Europe‘s, “The Final Countdown”, along with a sing-along from the crowd. After the final few seconds, Tom appeared on stage with a Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee in hand, raring to go.

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After a brief introduction and run down from Tom’s Co-Pilot, Lulu Loud, the best party ever was ready to begin. Spinning back and starting in 1954 with Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock”, Tom leapt into action as a force to be reckoned with. We entered the sixties with Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack”, followed by Chubby Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again”, which Tom happily demonstrated himself, followed by hits from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

The seventies belonged to The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Queen, while the eighties opened with Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believing”, getting the crowd cheering, ready for Nena‘s “99 Luftballons”, dancing for Katrina & The Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine”,  then followed by the screaming out of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. 

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While the nineties started with RnB jams, Tom took the time to mention, “If you’re gonna do the nineties, you’re gonna do it right,” and with that, he slowed down the pace for Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. The 2000s had highlights from Hilltop Hoods, Gwen Stefani, Jet, and Beyonce; while the 201os featured the likes of Sia, Swedish House Mafia, and Gotye. 

To celebrate Adelaide, and all the small city has done for him, Tom brought out some homegrown talent; Wes Carr and Luke Million. The addition of these guys gave the set an extra dimension and a reminder that everything Tom is doing onstage is live. Despite a few hiccups, (Wes‘ microphone cutting out at the beginning of “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, and Luke Million‘s accidental brush of the Key-tar too early in an 80s jam) their presence was still enjoyed and encouraged by the crowd.

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This focus on Aussie talent spread far and wide throughout the Hot Dub Time Machine experience. By finishing off the set with the likes of Baker Boy, Peking Duk, and his dear friend, What So Not, Tom reminded us all, “There’s never been a time in Australian music than right F-ing now!” And with a swift rewind of what made up his stellar two and a half hour set, and declaring it as the ‘Best. Party. Ever’ in the ‘Best. City. Ever,’ Tom left the stage with a simple thank you to the crowd: “Thanks so much for coming, thanks for supporting Hot Dub.” And the party was over.

The overall crowd reaction to the Hot Dub Time Machine experience, was a positive one, with no one seeming bored at all during the night. The security was tight and it showed with the policies in place for the crowd. In a sold-out environment like this, safety restrictions are needed, but it was a shame to see some audience members ignore them, which ended up distracting some of the crowd from the show.

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To keep his show fresh and unique for Adelaide, Tom mixed in some old school Hot Dub tricks with some new ones, such as his famous red balloon drop, many streamer explosions, and giant colourful rubber balls floating amongst the crowd. Perhaps the best of them all was his surprise: The Michael Jackson Megamix, showing there’s no better way to finish off the seventies other than with multiple MJ hits ranging between the 1970s – 1990s.

Overall, Tom’s presence as a performer is second to none. There’s not many DJ’s out there who can entertain and keep a crowd moving and engaged for nearly three hours. He’s shown that he’s come along with Hot Dub Time Machine since 2011, and by getting up close to the crowd and busting out some of his own moves (if done by anyone else would be cringe-worthy) his passion is perhaps even stronger than it was initially, with the Hot Dub Time Machine experience only getting bigger.

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AMNPLIFY – GD