Project Description

Confidence Man

@ The Triffid, Brisbane

04/05/2018

Live Review

Reviewer: Brianna Denmeade

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Confidence Man Brisbane Triffid Live Review

Confidence Man Live @ The Triffid Brisbane

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2017 saw Confidence Man aka the female/male duo named Janet Planet and Sugar Bones, burst onto the Australian music scene. Since they first started making a name for themselves by making pop and coordinated dance moves cool again they have played BigSoundSplendour In The Grass and Falls Festival, followed by Groovin the Moo this year. With no signs of slowing down, they have recently released their debut record Confident Music for Confident People, with a national tour to go with it.

I had the opportunity to go along to the Brisbane leg of their tour to see what all the hype is about, and boy was I impressed.

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Clarence McGuffie, keyboardist, and Reggie Goodchild, drummer, entered the stage first masked by veils, as always, soon followed by vocalists Sugar Bones and Janet Planet, both dressed minimally and completely in white. The contrast between the black-veils and the pearl-white worn by the lead man and woman created an appropriately dramatic entrance.

The first track they play is the second on their album, Bubblegum, and it immediately gets the audience pumped for the remainder of their set. Janet Planet and Sugar Bones perform perfect choreographed, synchronised dance moves. Their ability to combine such frantic dance moves and high-energy sing-a-long lyrics are something to be noted.

Better Sit Down Boy seems like it is one of the favourites of the night so far, with the crowd screaming the lyrics toward the stage. Considering the track is so fastpaced it is a dynamic moment when they transition to their calmest number Catch My Breath, an instrumental duet between, the still veiled, Reggie and Clarence.

Just enough time for a smooth costume change, the frontman and woman re-emerge donning sunglasses, to open the track C.O.O.L Party. I remember back at BigSound there were people not sure of Confidence Man, and what they are all about. They have made pop cool again with lyrics like, “It’s the party of the year, and I know because I’ve been to heaps of parties,” – simple, clever and relatable. I am sure a few people looking sideways at Confidence Man a year ago are quietly kicking themselves for not recognising their uniqueness compared to other Australian acts at the time, to go against the grain or do something unexpected in music is a feat all of its own.

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A second costume change sees Janet Planet and Sugar Bones both come back in matching tweed jackets and short-shorts. A nice coordinated jacket drop as the beat dropped, reveals Sugar’s glowing shoulder pads and Janet’s illuminated bra rhythmically flashing to the pumping beat of Try Your Luck. Don’t You Know I’m In A Band is probably my favourite single from the Confident Music For Confident People album because it highlights Sugar Bone’s deep vocals more than the rest of the record. It is fun, funky and has a different feel to the rest of the tracks.

It was no surprise to me that Confidence Man was called back to the stage by the audience for a well-deserved encore. This gave them the opportunity to play their most recent single, Out The Window; a bit more ’80s ballad then disco/pop which is a really nice choice to end the show.

“Thank you, Brisbane, you are fucking awesome,” Praised Janet Planet before they leave the stage. And if you were ever lacking the confidence to dance and sing your heart out at gigs, this is the one for you. No Judgement for confident people with confident moves. You gotta be CONFIDENT, MAN.

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Their debut album Confident Music For Confident People is a party from start to finish, lyrically witty and cheeky, with the right amount of vulgarity. Seeing Confidence Man live was more than live music it was a full-on stage production with stellar dance-moves and incredible music production brought to life by a group who claims they are ‘amateurs’; they can probably update that status now. They are one of the Aus music groups making a BIG buzz around the country and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next!

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Confidence Man Brisbane Live Review

Confidence Man