During the final weeks of lockdown in Sydney, “Divine Intervention” came in the form of Client Liaison and an electrifying global livestream event. Hosted on October 2nd, Client Liaison celebrated the release of their second studio album with a performance that COVID-19 couldn’t cancel. That’s the beauty of livestreams! The Australian pop duo, consisting of Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller, were joined by their band, and collaborated with the livestream platform Moment House.
The process was much like what I experienced when joining Halsey’s global livestream event. Moment House encourages fan interaction with the chat feature available during the countdown to the concert, as well as during the performance. One fan from the UK was excited the time difference enabled them to enjoy a “morning disco” while all the Aussies were tuning in from 7:30pm!
An additional feature I adored this time around was the merchandise shop, enabling ticketholders to buy Client Liaison merch bundles, all from the comfort of their own homes – and without a queue! It was a great way to further support the duo and make the experience feel akin to attending live music events.
Client Liaison performed a 50-minute set, “welcoming us to heaven” and utilising neon lighting to illuminate a stark-white set, and a truck that housed the duo and their band as they made their grand entrance. A heavenly, ethereal influence was evident during the livestream, as tall Greek-like pillars lined the performance space in what appeared to be a circular form. The “stage” setup – only a small box to give height amongst the band, was centred, complimenting the camera that intimately followed the band and regularly circled around the space.
The livestream took place within the first 48-hours of the new album being shared with the world, which added to the intimacy of the event. Hearing “Intervention” and “Strictly Business” performed live especially excited me, as I’d been listening to the new tracks in the lead up to the stream. Weaving in songs like “Elevator Up” and “Champagne Affection” also highlighted the duo’s strength in creating music that carries heart and soul, yet a fun energy, with the 80’s synth and dance beats flowing through each song in the set.
Client Liaison nail the line between sexy and soulful, especially evident when the saxophone comes out. The duo and their band weren’t afraid to dance, to move and even show off Monte’s outfit changes throughout the show. Fan favourite tracks “World of our Love” and “The Real Thing” were saved for the end of the set, with the livestream concluding after the band performed “House of Holy”.
The event was the perfect accompaniment to a Saturday night in lockdown, igniting joy and hope. At times, the livestream felt meditative, with Client Liaison leaning heavily into the “Divine Intervention” theme to accompany their aptly titled album. It provided the perfect amount of escapism and mindfulness, with lyrics like “let this be your remedy” and “with fire inside, in search of hope, remember this, you’re not alone” more relevant and comforting than ever.
At times, masked crew members were visible – a reminder that the world we know it, despite being a “World of our Love”, is navigating through a pandemic that has had a significant impact on the music industry. The livestream served as hope for the future – a future when we’re all dancing in a crowd as Client Liaison perform on a stage that is radiating love and light.
Livestreams may not be “The Real Thing”, but they sure as hell are the closest thing to a gig we can get at times, and they’re worth the ticket. Even as the world continues to open up, as live music makes a return, I highly recommend supporting your favourite artists and enjoying any livestream events they host. It’s always exciting to see their creativity shine on screen, and it’s unique to experience an intimacy, to performances, plus comfort, that you can only experience at home.
Setlist
1. Club Called Heaven
2. Elevator Up
3. Off White Limousine
4. Intervention
5. Champagne Affection
6. Strictly Business
7. Groove is in The Heart (cover)
8. World of our Love
9. The Real Thing
10. House of Holy
Lovers of Live 