It’s been a while between drinks for Aussie songstress Missy Higgins, but it seems the break has done her good. At her hometown gig, she appeared at once cool, calm and collected while also showing off some pretty talented mates she’d brought along for the ride.
Her new album, The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle, shows a fuller sound for Higgins and one that is much less reliant on piano. This came into play just one song in, as Hidden Ones, a slow builder impossible not to tap along to. More new material followed with the upbeat Hello Hello and melodic Set Me On Fire before live favourite Peachy returned the popular back catalogue with vigour.
Then, as a carpenter reaches reassuringly for his tool belt, she returned to the grand piano. A string of oldies but goodies ensued, namely This Is How It Goes and Where I Stood, the latter sparking attention not only from its chart-topping status but famed spot on US drama Grey’s Anatomy – a fact the jovial Higgins was only too quick to point out.
Then came the animal noises. Pulled from the new album, Watering Hole, transported the audience into the far reaches of Africa, a bluesy backdrop fueling gospel-tainted harmonies and the odd safari cry here and there – from the stage and the crowd. Encouraged by Higgins herself, the fully seated crowd allowed themselves to little up (just a little) and as a result, successive songs were piqued with the odd dog bark or monkey screech.
An interlude came in the form of Higgins’ co-writer, producer, back-up vocalist, bass player and some-time support act, Butterfly Boucher, an artist who made a break for it herself several years ago but didn’t gain much commercial exposure in Australia. Clearly a working relationship, Higgins shared many credits with Boucher through the set and even requested she sing Higgins’ favourite Boucher song, Warning Bell, for the audience. The woman is clearly talented and it is great that now her name should once again get a chance to rise to the surface.
Another support act that shared the stage during Higgins’ set was blind Aboriginal singer, Gurrumul, who added his breathtaking vocals to one of her newer singles, Everyone’s Waiting. Edgy single, Unashamed Desire, was also a gig highlight and brought the somewhat subdued crowd rushing to the front of the Palais for the last few songs.
A firm non-believer in encores, Higgins played right through her overtime and gave the crowd a “disco number” in Let The Love In and old favourite, Scar, which didn’t get quite as rousing a reaction as it did on its first release. And it’s not surprising – she seems has largely outgrown her earlier years and it seems her fans are more than willing to jump in the car and come along for the ride.
BY JEN WILSON
Photo credit: Charles Newbury
LOVED: The Missy/Butterfly Boucher team.
HATED: The inability to wolf whistle.
DRANK: Wine.
