- The significance of Larry Heard performing in Melbourne cannot be understated. His Chicago house legacy inspired many of the city's best clubs, like the now-defunct Honkytonks and Sorry Grandma, where his jacking jams were on heavy rotation. These days, there's still a strong chance you'll hear "The Sun Can't Compare" at the business end of any club night. All in all, Heard has left an indelible mark on Australia's house music scene, whether you're an artist, promoter or clubber.
In 2012, Heard announced his retirement from the club circuit due to sustained hearing damage. That was a blow to all who loved him, but wounds ran particularly deep in Australia, where Heard never got to play. You can imagine the response, then, when it was revealed that Heard would perform live at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday, September 10th. This was only the second time he'd played live in more than 20 years, following last month's comeback show at Dimensions Festival in Croatia.
Melbourne Town Hall is usually home to polling booths, business forums and orchestral music, and on Saturday, the dance floor was situated only metres from the Lord Mayor's office. Gigi Masin and Gaussian Curve—AKA Masin, Jonny Nash and Young Marco—warmed up proceedings with a series of ambient soundscapes, while punters took in the grand, wood-panelled venue.
Heard, performing in front of the hall's ornate organ (the largest in the southern hemisphere) and wearing his signature baseball cap, was joined onstage by vocalist Chad White, AKA Mr. White. The timeless bass and synth lines of opener "Mystery Of Love" bellowed from the crisp soundsystem, swelling underneath the 70-foot ceiling covered in chandeliers. Over the next 90 minutes, he presented a career-spanning setlist that moved from rolling deep house to mesmerising acid. Flawless renditions of "What About This Love" and "You Rock Me" set the mood early, while the closing trio of "Can You Feel It," "The Sun Can't Compare" and "Missing You" sent the room into near-hysterics. Club veterans who had come out of retirement swayed in unison with their eyes closed, joined by lively dancers younger than much of Heard's discography. His set was a testament to house music's unifying qualities, and a reminder that the power of a well-crafted record is eternal.