Australian dance-music specialists Cut Copy played to one of the largest FreeFest crowds of the day, making the previous set by Big Sean look like an intimate coffeeshop gig. But the only thing that came to my mind throughout the hour-long set was, "What's the fuss about?"
Cut Copy has three acclaimed records under its belt, full of dance-rock that floats above the clouds. But live, the songs felt weightless, like a gust of wind could blow the band off the stage, even with all of its -- literal -- bells and whistles. Singer Dan Whitford doesn't possess the strongest voice but it works in the band's favor as it creates another instrument that melts into the synthesizers.
All of the signifiers of dance music were there -- driving beats, compositions that build and break down -- but the payoffs never felt substantial. It felt like I was
supposed
to be dancing, but not because I wanted to. By the looks of the crowd, this was not the consensus.