80s revivalist and unnerving moustache-wearer Donny Benet is hosting four ‘Dinner & Duets’ every Wednesday this month at GoodGod in Sydney – the basic caper is that he plays some of his stuff, then a musical guest joins to duet for the second half.

His partner in musical crimes tonight is the usually-a-bit-more-naked Kirin J Callinan. Predictably, it’s like watching Rick Astley himself getting Rick-rolled by Thurston Moore. Or the other way round. Or something else that the internet would no doubt enjoy – I’m thinking particularly of their cover of Prince’s “Love, Thy Will Be Done”, equal parts ridiculous and brilliant.

Tell you what though – Donny Benet may be a bit funny-looking, but he can play like nothing you’ve ever seen. Or at least, he looks like nothing you’ve ever seen when he plays. The daft antics with the guest is great theatre to be sure – and pairing Callinan’s squalling guitars with Benet’s drum machine and Moog is wildly and titanically daft – but the musical talent behind the sillines of his own material just blazes straight on through.

Huge, huge fun – and it beats the breakfast out of going to see the same old landfill every week. There’s some more photos after the jump to prove it.

You too can treat yourself to dinner with Donny every Wednesday in January, each show featuring a musical guest – Isabella Manfredi (from The Preatures, 9th), SPOD (16th), Jack Ladder (23rd) – at GoodGod in Sydney. Oh, and did we mention it was free, and there’s $5 beer? That too, then. 

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