Cate Le Bon has always felt like something of a well kept secret here in Australia but a packed out Toff In Town certainly begs to differ. Her new album, Crab Day,centres around a made up holiday which reflects the surrealism that features heavily within her lyrics and live show.
Up first was the enchanting Ella Thompson, someone who could easily take the title of most talented and versatile performer in Melbourne. Normally seen fronting Dorsal Fins or as one half of GL, Thompson’s natural energy as a performer makes her a compelling solo artist. It was even more of a treat to see Thompson’s set given that she doesn’t play solo very often, with songs off her stunning debut album performed with a renewed excitement. Thompson’s songwriting has great depth, built around keys driven compositions and her phenomenal vocals.
Le Bon was a striking figure onstage with her backing band doing an excellent job of not breaking eye contact as they played. Opening with the rambunctious title track off her new album, Le Bon, while lacking in stage banter, more than made up for it with stage presence, magnetic in her charm as she sang with her delightful Welsh accent coming through.
Gliding through album tracks Love Is Not Love which featured some spine tingling harmonies and Wonderful which was equal parts inventive and surreal, Le Bon’s abstract view of the world had the audience completely spellbound and relishing in the opportunity to leave reality for a little while. Are You With Me Now? was light and cheery but had a delicate melancholy executed so wonderfully by Le Bon it was hard not to get a little teary. She floored with her final song What’s Not Mine as she showed off her shredding skills over an unrelenting drum beat.
A quick encore of the Time by Richard Hell and the Voidoids capped the night and served as a final opportunity to witness a rare and unique talent. Le Bon is a visionary and impressively skilled performer and someone who will no doubt continue to do fascinating things within her music.
BY HOLLY PEREIRA
Loved: Pretty much every minute.
Hated: That the show didn’t last well into the night.
Drank: A concoction of ginger beer and Korean soju from a coffee cup outside. Very Melbourne.
