Holy Fuck

The last time Holy Fuck were here in Australia they played the “wettest ever Meredith Music Festival” in 2008, even though their set was at 3am in the driving rain it did not scare punters away as they tore through a blistering set off their debut album LP in what this reviewer considers one of the best shows he attended in the later half of 00’s. Fast forward to 2011 with a new album under their belt Latin, and with parts of the country under water and a hurricane Yasi wreaking destruction up north one would think that Holy Fuck are the soundtrack to apocalyptic McCarthy style events.

For the uninitiated Holy Fuck is an electronic band hailing from Toronto, however referring to them as electronic act does not do them justice, as they are not your typical electronic band. Choosing to discard the moderus operandi of most electronic bands (use of digital equipment, pre-programmed backing tracks and the use of a laptop), Holy Fuck prefer to perform with live bass & drums, keyboards, guitars, toy instruments, 35mm audio strip replay, and distorted vocals to create a show that leaves your feet and body aching from a dance workout to rival all others.

Opening with Super Inuit and Milkshake woke the usually standoff (ish) Melbourne crowd into a riotous party mood, with bodies moving in all directions and hands flailing in the air. With Brian Borchedt and Graham Walsh up-front driving the melodic direction, and bassist Matt McQuaid and drummer Matt Schulz the engine, which fuels the groove.

Over the next hour they stormed through Latin America, Stay Lit, 1MD and Red Lights all songs off their latest album, mixed in with gems off their debut. Their intense, intricate sound in the live setting becomes a raw psychedelic beast. If you are a fan of their albums you must seem them live, if you have never heard of Holy Fuck do yourself favour and check them out, as they do not disappoint.

The only thing to disappoint for the night was that the room was only two thirds full and the handful of alpha males on the dance floor with their arms crossed and rigid feet, note to all males who wish to stand flat footed at Holy Fuck gig, move to the back to allow punters who wish to dance to have fun without your negative energy.