LIVE REVIEW: Jordan Rakei @ The Rosemount

We have to be honest; this was the first time we’d ever gone to a live gig. Sure, we made a few rookie mistakes (like showing up when the doors opened, or forgetting an SD card, or forgetting to check the set times) but that didn’t stop us from having a great time.

The event opened with the Wooly Mammoth. It was a brilliant start that set the tone for the rest of the night; relaxed, ambient, and absolutely vibing. Their The Wombats-esque vibes had the room swaying and foot tapping from the get-go (there was also dancing on the open floor), and if we’re being honest, the Mammoths were the best start the night could have offered.

Shy Panther followed with a very different psychedelic sound, offering an interesting twist to the evening. With lots of flanger and modulation, the Panthers gave an atmospheric kick to the night that proved to be an enlightening introduction to music we’d hadn't quite heard before. 

After that, Ruby May energised the evening with their refreshing retro funk, creating an authentic yet fun environment. May, with her charisma and her charm, kicked the room into an atmosphere of reverie with more dancing in the now crowded room. She gave us some 80s nostalgia, and was a wonderful precursor to the main event: Jordan Rakei.

Jordan Rakei, of course, stole the show. Debuting his new album Wallflower, Rakei’s acoustic and cosmological melodies had the audience spacebound, and tying the evening’s skill set together in a final encore. Fusing together the sounds of Frank Ocean, The Japanese House and Gallant, the futuristic jazz artist truly made the audience appreciate his genre-blending masterpieces. He worked the captivated audience over his hour set, and his final song was the hardest because we knew it would signal the close to a spectacular night. 

Overall, the night was just amazing. The crowd was great and the solidarity between artists made for a great night that was more than just artists performing. It was ambient, it was enjoyable, and quite truthfully, one of the best ways to kick off our 2018.