The grand setting of the Melbourne Recital Centre tends to take many performers aback. Jaala admit that it’s the fanciest room they’ve ever been in, let alone played in, with lead singer Cosima Jaala comparing it to the Myer centre. There is a sense that the band are a little uncomfortable with the audience sitting down, not that this hinders the strength of their performance. Lead single Hard Hold is particularly impressive and sounds bolder than ever in the larger space.
There’s not much waiting around before Poliça arrive on stage, walking out before the lights come up to a distorted backing track, which amplifies the anticipation in the crowd. Heralded as one of the premier synth-pop acts of recent times, the band have been turning heads since 2011, subverting pop conventions through their sonic experimentation and intelligent lyrics.
Flying direct from their hometown of Minneapolis, the band appear weary from jetlag but charmed by Melbourne and the crowd. “You have a beautiful city,” says lead singer Channy Leaneagh, who possesses some of the best manners you may ever hear on a stage. The band waste no time getting stuck into the best tracks off their stellar third album United Crushers, launching straight into Summer Please and Lime Habit. While they’re all considerably reserved, their stage presence still has a forceful impact. It’s fascinating to watch each member off in their little world, playing their instruments as precisely as they do on their records. Leaneagh’s voice is captivating with its hypnotic power enhanced by the live setting, while Chris Bierdan’s bass playing also wows the crowd, particularly on Amongster.
Older songs Lay Your Cards Out and Wandering Star sound revitalised in a new context, each receiving an enthusiastic response from the crowd. Explosive set closer Lose You makes the biggest impression of the night, setting Poliça apart from their contemporaries and leaving the audience anxious for an encore.
The band play their set with quiet conviction, never appearing smug or insincere as they execute their songs flawlessly. The spell the band cast on the crowd still hangs in the air long after they leave the stage, with the general consensus obvious: Poliça are masters of their craft.
Loved: Poliça’s politeness.
Hated: The tickle I developed in my throat during the show.
Drank: A single glass of red.
BY HOLLY PEREIRA
