The Cat Empire
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Saturday 8 September
★★★★½
Reviewer: Nicole Precel
"It's always strange playing back home. It's more pressure," says the Cat Empire's singer-precussionist Felix Riebl at one point during this high-energy show. "All the skeletons and the expectations come out of the closet. Melbourne has been such a big part of our lives."
Formed in 1999, the tight-knit outfit is in the midst of a huge Australian tour, with 30-odd dates looming in Europe to an average of 4000 fans a night and about 20 dates in North America to come.
The band has always brought the party atmosphere, and this night is no exception. There's a chill outside but within the golden walls of the Palais it suddenly feels like summer and no one wants to sit down.
Felix Riebl (third from right) and his Cat Empire bandmates have weathered changing times and musical fashions.
Photo: suppliedThe Cuban-inspired Sol Y Sombra is a perfect demonstration of their musical brilliance, and with an impressive display by keyboardist Ollie McGill and the trumpet of Harry James Angus richoceting around the huge theatre, it soon shakes the crowd out of their seats. By the time they crack into Wolves, the audience is dancing, clapping and cheering wildly.