Peking Duk – UC Refectory – Friday 10 March
By Peter Searles
Canberra has shown its love for home grown electronic duo Peking Duk at their 10th March gig at UC Refectory. Four years after their biggest ever tour, Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles are back on the road visiting capital cities and towns all over the country.
The UC gig was a chance for the duo to reminisce about the place where it all began (apparently in the back yard of Adam’s mum’s house, which is now owned by an old German couple) and for Canberrans to show they’re down to party any time the boys feel like a trip home.
Sydney based producer Nyxen showed in her support set why she has earned a reputation as one of the country’s rising talents in electronic music. As the crowd slowly grew, everyone got moving to Nyxen’s set of electro house remixes and her own original material.
By the time Peking Duk hit the stage with some high energy introductory tracks, it was to a raucous and packed house. And the duo definitely showed their skill at stoking the energy of the crowd, whether it was with swinging phone torches, waving around removed clothing as the Refectory heated up, or the moment when some guy called Marcus did a shoey on stage with Reuben Styles.
We heard material from Peking Duk’s entire catalogue, from their earliest single to a selection of brand new tracks that are being tested out on audiences for the first time. Live vocals by Lucy Lucy brought the tunes to life and were matched by her electric presence on stage.
Nostalgia was the driving force of the gig. Adam and Reuben shared stories of how they got their start in Canberra and what it meant for them to be back here. Their recent output seems to be looking back too, with a re-working of Savage Garden’s ‘I Want You’ and a cover of Crowded House’s ‘Fall At Your Feet’, which they had recorded earlier that same day for triple J’s ‘Like a Version’ with guest vocalist Julia Stone. Adding to these, there were crowd singalongs galore including Cher’s ‘Believe’, Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ and John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’.
The night was rounded out with the euphoric pop of earlier hits ‘Stranger’ and ‘High’, which still draw a massive reaction from fans.
Peking Duk’s national tour continues with shows all over the country. Check out the remaining dates on their website and listen in to the duo’s recently launched podcast for their ongoing tour commentary, including fan shout outs recorded live at the gigs.