Peking Duk kicked off their “BIGGEST TOUR EVER…so far” on Thursday night, to a “SOLD OUT “ show at the Northern Byron Bay.
The stage at the Northern was tricked up with ferns and palm trees, CO2 cannons looming over the huge speakers front of the stage and smaller ones along front … I knew we were in for one hell of a show.
Moody lighting set the stage for Kirra Puru. Kirra hit the stage in all black including slicked black hair and banter with the crowd to move their butts closer to the stage. Kirra hits the party button with her kick arse set, and by the time she serves up her hits “Teach you how to fly” and “Molotov”, the crowd is screaming for more.
Kwame bounces on to the stage next… clearly, he has his own devoted fan base with the crowd calling for his hits “No Time” “Clouds” and “WOW”, from the moment he sets foot on stage. It’s a high-energy set as he raps and bounces around the stage. Fans are thrilled as he balanced on the barrier to sing to them allowing fans to get some up-close photos.
Now the mood has been set, the crowds swelling forward for Peking Duk. The seasoned DJs run onto the stage for the first big night of the tour. The room is blasted with white light, mist and the party starts.
There ‘s a lot of content in this show with some special moments between songs. At one point, they moved chairs onto the stage to stand on. Hyde and Styles give us a Rhythmic gymnastic show with ribbons on sticks, brilliant.
They then invite Kira Puru on stage and get the crowd to crouch down low.. as low as you can. “It will work better the lower you are”. The music builds with a cover of Blurs song 2, the room waits. …Then the chorus hits and Bam, they jump up, CO2 cannons filling the room from all angles and they keep bouncing with hands in the air… Whooo Hooo.
The boys talk about Byron fondly and stating, “its where they really got started”, a place close to their hearts. And Byron clearly loves them back!
Stand out crowd favourite was “ fire”, with Sarah Aarons on vocals, and they definitely set The Northern on fire, it’s full visual experience with CO2 and streamer canons as they burst into the sweat-filled room.
The party keeps rolling into the night, ending with the room filled with people on shoulders, hands in the air and beaming smiles everywhere with streamers swirling in the misty air.
Words and images – Lisa Gough –
www.lisagphotography.com.au
@lisagphotography
