By: Josh Kitchen / May 20, 2024
Photo by: McLean Stephenson
Australian post-disco-sensual-bass-giant, Donny Benét, brought his Infinite Desires tour to Los Angeles on Saturday, closing out his run of North American shows in a 75 minute set that had the audience dancing the entire time, willing to go another 75 if given the opportunity.
Supported by the fantastic OTNES in her debut Los Angeles show, Benét and his band walked out at 8:15 ready to take the audience on a smooth-funk odyssey, opening with "Mr. Experience" off his excellent 2020 album of the same name. "Mr. Experience" was followed by "Moving Up", and each song after that was treat after treat, each song a delicious morsel ready to be eaten up.
Benét has a penchant for lacing his songs with sexual metaphors using food lyrics, the result often a laugh inducing reaction you quickly accept as you can't help but groove to the suggestions. Before "Second Dinner," perhaps the best example of this, Benét describes his perfect date to the audience, "Dinner, followed by love-making, then perhaps a light snack, and then more love-making."
Benét was backed by his excellent band - Peter Koopman on guitar, James Waples on drums, with Dan Waples on saxophone rounding out the sexy quartet. The Don's previous outing in the States was him without his band, so getting to see the power of a full-band Donny Benét show was not lost on the audience, or to the band themselves.
Before Benét and the band "left" the stage before their encore, he made sure to thank the audience for support, citing the hefty expense it takes to travel for an Australian band. He promised to come out to meet everyone after the show and sign anything they'd like, including body parts. The audience obliged with Benét making sure to take time with each and every concert-goer. Let's hope we don't have to wait long for The Don's return!
Donny Benét at The Regent in Los Angeles, May 18, 2024:
Mr. Experience
Moving Up
Second Dinner
Multiply
American Dream
Forbidden Love
Konichiwa
So Long
Consensual Loving
Go Now
Wait Until It Rains Tomorrow
Encore:
12. Le Piano
13. Santorini
Purchase Infinite Desires here: https://donnybenet.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-desires
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