Boo Seeka

The Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda

There is a cool breeze blowing in from the Bay, the streets are lined with eager ticket holders, all cramming in to see Boo Seeka. As the iconic Gershwin Room fills up, its been a while since duo Ben and Mikey have graced the stage in Melbourne.

Opening the set with ‘Oh My’ the crowd erupts into a sea of smiles, pure joy that can’t be tamed or harnessed; the energy in the room as strangers become friends is palpable, and the boys know how to work the room Ben Gumbleton entrances the crowd with his signature moves, the stage his dance floor, the audience mesmerized.

Having released a number of new singles last year, the band are finally able to play them in front of Melbourne fans for the first time. ‘ Never Enough’, ‘ Rush’ ‘ Days Get Better’ and ‘ Millennium Drive’ sounding exceptional as they play them alongside old favorites ‘ Kingdom Leader’ and          ‘ Humans’.

Percussionist Mikey May clearly enjoying himself, an infectious smile plastered across his face for the entire set, a contagious joy that lights up the room. He runs across the stage, reaching out to fans, passing around a half- drunken wine bottle and spreading joy. Its this kind of stage interaction that make the band so popular, they have an air of not taking themselves too seriously, yet produce a well structured set at the same time.

Calling for the house lights to dim, front man Ben Gumbleton asks the crowd to turn on their mobile phone torches in what becomes a dark moody atmosphere for ‘ Turn Up Your Light’ and for almost four minutes the crowd sway in unison with Ben.

The evening is coming to a close, and as the crowd dance away the last year of missing gigs,  not being able to hug friends and being isolated, Ben and Mikey have bought everyone together for a night of unadulterated bliss, and for this one crowded hour the past is forgotten and we all smile and dance,  united in a love for Boo Seeka.

Words and images by Amanda Lee Starkey