Armed with an acoustic guitar and harmonica, Oliver transported listeners on a uniquely captivating journey that traversed haunting minimalist-folk, sprightly jazz-pop and neo-classical landscapes.
Clearly, Otouto were not having one of their best nights, but the Melbourne trio remain a delight to witness on such occasions. Determined to test a few new tracks and rather blasé about leaving punters waiting, it took the trio several attempts to launch successfully into one of them. The songs performed from their debut album, Pip, were a better representation of the trio’s superbly-crafted experimental-pop aesthetic.
Holly Throsby emerged on stage in her usual humble fashion, opening with What I Thought Of You, the first track on her new album, Team. After performing her fourth album’s opening song solo, Throsby was joined on stage by her band, The Hello Tigers – comprising of Jens Birchall (cello, bass, mandolin) and Bree Van Reyk (drums, accordion, glockenspiel, keyboard, backing vocals). In a beautiful performance of one of Team’s highlights, It’s Only Need, Van Reyk’s vocal harmonies were mesmerising and Birchall’s cello playing was sublime. The emphasis on classical instrumentation for her fourth album renders Team incredibly intimate, personal and pure.
Throsby’s modest and friendly demeanour allowed the audience to feel involved throughout the set, which made her hilarious and engaging banter all the more enjoyable. She informed the audience that they were available for weddings “for a reasonable offer” and delivered a “first year philosophy”-themed joke that everyone seemed to miss besides a gentleman in front of me. Throsby provoked collective laughter, though, when she recommended her children’s album (also available at the merchandise stand) to “those with reproductive organs” and pet-owners.
It was a memorable night for Throsby’s loyal fans – a performance that included songs from each of her albums and captured her charming, heart-felt songwriting in its barest and most endearing form. Here Is My Co-Pilot and Making A Fire were more uplifting moments in a set lined in more meditative ones. Throsby’s encore performance of When? – the final track on Team – was an apt and contemplative beauty to end on.
