It takes a fair bit of peer pressure to get me into a CBD nightclub on a Monday night, but the lure of guaranteed sadness through the power of song was enough to bring me to 170 Russell for one of Daughter’s only Australian shows. And they didn’t disappoint – the sadder I got, the happier I became.
I nestled in at the brink of the dancefloor and watched Fractures, the Melburnian support act joining Daughter for their two performances across the country. Main man Mark Zito was supported by an effortless two-piece band, cruising through a set of dark, textured music. The set ended dramatically; basically all shredding at maximum in the most controlled, subdued crescendo I’ve ever heard.
With only two releases under their belt, London’s Daughter still drew a diverse crowd, all of whom eagerly awaited the headliners. Their debut album won the UK Independent Album of the Year, and the follow up, Not To Disappear, was released in January to equally rave reviews.
Creeping shyly onto stage, frontwoman Elena Tonra slid straight into Youth, a beautiful guitar-driven single from their first album. Infectious drums lifted the song and everyone’s eyes eventually unlocked after becoming mesmerised by the lead singer.
Her two official band mates, plus a can-play-every-instrument support musician, joined Tonra. Each member was equally mesmerising in their own way. While they claimed to be a “sad band”, and called any song with a slightly quicker tempo “the happy song”, they weren’t lacking in energy. Drummer Remi Aguilella was a blur of subtle, driving percussion, with very little in the way of facial expressions. Guitarist Igor Haefeli filled the gaps between the delicate finger picking and howling guitar work. Between songs, Haefeli served as spokesperson, and it became clear the lead singer, whose powerful, articulate voice backboned the entire performance, was the shyest person on the face of the planet.
A personal favourite, Alone / With You, began with roaring approval from the now sweaty, yet serenely still crowd. Half of the audience had their eyes closed, the other half involuntarily swaying around with the sniffles. After a set of tearing emotion, one supposedly happy song and a lot of swooning, Daughter left us feeling gooey, and departed with a barely audible “thank you”.
Loved: A downlight in the crowd reflecting perfectly off a bald man’s head.
Hated: A downlight in the crowd reflecting perfectly off a bald man’s head.
Drank: a VB, a straight whisky and a water – all at once.
BY JAKE MCGOVERN
