On Friday 20th June, tech-house legend Mall Grab performed at PICA in Melbourne as part of his Looking For Trouble Tour AU/NZ 2025, and it really was The Real Thing. Now I’ve Always Liked Grime, and seeing Mall Grab perform live brought back my days of house parties with novice friends on the decks hitting play on Liverpool Street In The Rain and the crowd (of 20) going wild, naïvely thinking this was our friend’s new, original mix.
I think most (if not all) of my techno-loving peers can attest to the fact that Mall Grab’s music has played a huge role in the Australian tech-house scene. His versatility in style ranging from glistening beats and nostalgic synths to bassy tech transports you to a different world - taking you Hand in Hand Through Wonderland some may say.
The deep respect for Mall Grab’s music was visible in the entranced crowd at PICA this Friday. Fan-favourite, Love Reigns, did not disappoint at the start of the night, but it didn’t stop there. Guiding swiftly through a 2.5-hour set, Mall Grab took the crowd on a journey through his effortless transitions from trance, to drill mixes, to piano house, and picking it up with heavy on and off filtering of his super bassy songs. It was a privilege to watch him perform his mastery, and watch the crowd responded to his every move.
His songs an essential in any budding DJs toolkit, Mall Grab has truly memorialised himself in the ‘Electronic Music Hall of Fame’ (if there is such a thing) and will continue to be one of my favourite artists even as Times Change.
My only recommendation to anyone attending his (or any techno/house music) shows would be to possibly invest in some good ear plugs/loops! You could feel that bass in your chest. Additionally, the lights at PICA tended to be angled directly into the crowd’s eyes at times, which can make techno shows even more intense, so make sure to bring some sunglasses.
If you’re looking to branch out into listening to techno music (as is all the rage in Australian festival culture), Mall Grab’s music is a great place to start and will never let you down.
Photography by Lila McRae-Palmer