Storm troopers were littered across the stage armed with a couple of guitars, a synthesiser, a Mac Book, drum kit and microphones. Beneath a disco ball, this was an interesting sight in itself. Then, when the opening sounds of Space Invadas’ performance began, there was little doubt that this would be an extraordinary experience.

The brainchild of Australian producer Katalyst and British soulman Steve Spacek, Space Invadas burst onto the scene with a couple of hit singles in mid-2009, and a cult-like following has since emerged. Alongside a tour and a hefty promotional barrage, it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of hype surrounding this band.   

Following an impressive support act from promising hip-hop duo Koolism, Space Invadas produced a set that definitely lived up to expectations. Kicking off with the unique introductory track off their debut album ‘Soul: Fi’, the group soon embarked upon a musical ‘journey’ of funk and soul. As the Star Wars inspired get up came off, the on-stage personalities came out. Steve Spacek, in his white shoes and suit, is a classic soulman with an uncompromising air of cool. Meanwhile, Katalyst aka Ashley Anderson stands slightly toward the back of stage, but he rarely lets his inportance to the group remain unnoticed. Complementing the cosy feel of the Toff, the band members continuously interacted with the enthusiastic audience-something that was particularly pleasing to the animated dancers up front (myself included).

The set was laden with tracks from ‘Soul Fi’, including the latest single ‘Done it again’. The audience were treated to a surprise (for me at least) appearance from Jade McRae and Fantine. These two lovely ladies feature on the record, but their performances were incredible. Jade McRae, with her distinct musky voice, spruiked up the catchy track ‘Life’, whilst Fantine played a role in a number of the songs. Her stage presence and overall performance was phenomenal: a highlight, lifting the quality of the whole sound.

Katalyst got up to join Spacek on vocals for ‘Listen’, in which they demanded of the crowd whether they were listening. Topical and mildly political, as is frequent on Katalyst’s solo works, this song was a treat. It was a shame that Katalyst himself did not feature in as many tracks, perhaps to create a blend of hip hop and soul. Nonetheless, Spacek did the job quite well himself, particularly noticeable in the slower-paced ‘Imaginist’.

Right towards the end of their one-hour timeslot, Space Invadas announced that they were going to show the audience the ‘jam’ session they conduct prior to every performance. The couple of minutes in which they let loose were enthralling: it seemed that away from the tightly organized routine these guys could substantiate that they were true musicians. Space Invadas pre-empted the inevitable call for encore by conceding that they couldn’t play on past 11. But, there is no doubt that they left an impression on the sold out crowd.