Meg Mac has had a stellar year, reaching #2 on the ARIA charts with her debut album Low Blows, and selling out multiple shows in cities across the country.
The first of her two-night run at The Forum was kicked off by Sydney folk duo Georgia Fair. It’s been a while since these guys released anything new, but their support slot offered them the chance to showcase some from their upcoming EP The World’s Awake. Their beautiful, bluesy harmonies were the ideal way to ease into the weekend for those of us who were desperately in need of some calm.
Up next were Perth’s The Money War who glided through their set, which included new single Hold On, barely stopping between songs to allow for applause. They’re the kind of act that would make a really good wedding band in that they have a good mix of up-tempo and slower songs, so you could have a mad boogie to them, or just sit back, sip your drink, and let the music wash over you.
By the time Meg Mac walked on stage, the crowd had reached fever pitch. With the opening notes of Turning, she sent instant goosebumps throughout the theatre, which didn’t wane for the rest of her 90-minute set.
Mac’s growth as a performer over the last few years was obvious from the outset. She oozed confidence, commanding the stage and crowd like an absolute pro and moving with ease through Grace Gold, Every Lie and the one that apparently everyone calls her ‘October Song’, Cages.
It’s rare to be at a show where there isn’t the slightest bit of chatter audible in the audience, but everyone was so captivated by Mac, to speak would be to break the spell she’d put us under.
Mac’s down-to-earth nature shone through in the anecdotes about the production of her album that were littered throughout her set, including the fact that she was convinced there was a ghost in Electric Lady Studios the whole time she was recording Shiny Bright.
It was during songs such as Saint Philomene, which she loop-pedalled live, that her talent not only as an incredible vocalist, but musician, took centre stage. Mobile phone screens lit up the room during mass singalongs to Low Blows, Grandma’s Hands, and Never Be, so it was no surprise that the room erupted into cheers and stomping feet when she left.
Gracing the stage once more for an encore, Mac ended the show with a rendition of Roll Up Your Sleeves that was so full of emotion, it had me on the verge of tears, all the while believing that everything truly is gonna be alright.
Highlight: Getting to witness the strength of her live show and how much she has grown as a performer. Also the bar selling ‘Megspresso Mactinis’.
Lowlight: My phone dying before I could capture the magic on video.
Crowd favourite: The crowd went wild for so many songs that I swear she could’ve sung the alphabet and they still would’ve loved it.
