Tuesday night gigs can be tough but you wouldn’t have thought that with Alex Lahey’s first of two shows at the Corner. The night transitioned from charming to raucous and back to our teenage angst all within just a few hours.
Angie McMahon teased the heartstrings of those present from the earliest moments, her self-described “moderately sad rock’n’roll” was beautifully executed and remarkably fleshed out for an artist with only one song released. It was clear the amount of development and experimentation that has gone into her portfolio with each track sounding unique to those around it. Her sole release, ‘Slow Mover’ proved to be a solid highlight, not only of the set but of her performance as a whole.
It looked odd on paper, the punk attitudes of Press Club sandwiched between the folksy McMahon and lyrically charming Lahey, but it worked…to an extent. The crowd felt torn, and while Press Club have been hitting the stages across Melbourne on a frequency few could dream of, they were unfamiliar to many in the room. The result was a rather dulled reaction from the audience, even though the stage was struggling to contain the energy of the four-piece working away. It was an ambitious move, and surely won Press Club at least a handful of new fans.
Alex Lahey’s eagerly awaited debut album I Love You Like a Brother charmed fans socks off with its relatable and quirky storytelling. To think that her show would have been any different would not only be foolish but would’ve set you up for disappointment.
Lahey’s stage banter and presence was almost as homely as the material itself. She thanked both supports and fans timelessly with an earnest honesty that made it all feel real. When telling of her own underage adventures at the venue she slipped a sneaky shout out to those who’d done the same for her show, and it became a reminder that Lahey isn’t just an artist whom we love to listen to, but one we love to relate to.
A highlight of the set had to go to the encore where she effortlessly moved from a raw rendition of ‘There’s No Money’ into veritable party starter ‘Let’s Go Out’ showcasing the polarising sides to her style, all tied together through her strength as a wordsmith. The show may have moved away from Lahey’s talent with words in turn to demonstrate her passion and energy as a performer, but this juxtaposition tied everything together beautifully.
Highlight: Lahey’s Like a Version of Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’.
Lowlight: Remembering that a pint costs more than $10.
Crowd Favourite: ‘Wes Anderson’ became more than just a film director, pulling the room together with ease.
