England’s Groove Armada Conquers L.A. Dance Fans

Tom Findlay and Andy Cato, the core of the hot English dance music act Groove Armada, brought the vibe of their London club of the same name to L.A.’s Fais Do-Do Ballroom on Saturday for a much-anticipated DJ set. With the buzz bubbling with the rising fortunes of the Fatboy Slim-remixed version of their single “I See You Baby,” previewing the Feb. 22 U.S. release of the debut G.A. album “Vertigo,” crowd expectations were high--and they were met.

Alternating at the turntables, the duo unfolded a set starting from buoyant ‘70s funk and evolving organically through a rainbow continuum of styles--jazzy groove to liquidy trance--never letting the beat flag. As with all top DJs, the pair’s real instrument is the audience, and these guys played it finely, evidenced by the steady undulations and cheers of the crowd.

But Groove Armada offered something more in that Cato--all 6 feet, 8 inches of him--also played occasional bass and keyboards during the set, giving a small taste of an expected return to the U.S. with their full nine-piece band. For one early peak Saturday, they dropped in the recorded title phrase of the single to anchor their own live mix of the track, and then segued into Cato popping his nimble bass funk over a percolating beat.

Most importantly, Findlay and Cato seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the audience--they may be club owners, DJs and musicians, but first they’re fans of the music.

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Groove Armada plays tonight at Louis XIV, 606 N. La Brea Ave.; doors open at 10 p.m. $10. (323) 934-5102.