When it comes to the Melbourne live music scene, there’s no greater milestone than selling out the notorious Corner Hotel. Do it three times over and it’s automatically assumed that your stage presence, performance style and the sheer quality of your songs are of the highest calibre. Melbourne’s own Tash Sultana is a prime example of what it takes to not only captivate a crowd but to hold them at the very tips of her insanely talented guitar playing fingers.
First up was local one-man band Lyall Moloney. Before long he was spitting out Play With Fire through a pair of microphones, a double-dosed, cleanly delivered vocal. The Melbourne artist offered up Running For You and Go That Low with his effortlessly dynamic guitar work and dance-evoking, electronic grooves. Pot Of Gold and Black Dog closed the set, proving that while Moloney may not have had headliner status, he and his special guests were just as worthy of it.
The true sign of a performer is their ability to transcend time and reality, sending their audience into an atmosphere they themselves have created. Loop pedal legend Tash Sultana achieved this instantly. Big Smoke brought the bounce of a fat bass that weaved in an out of the crowd, creating an energetic wave of movement. The extended track held the audience for it’s entire duration, proving that it’s not always about the four-minute radio hit.
Playing the Corner as support for Mat McHugh just over a year ago, Sultana took time to reflect on her progress and thank the familiar faces in the audience for following her throughout. The Melbourne muso then shared news of a negative comment she received from a disgruntled audience member on her social media profile. Explaining that he had accused her of faking her guitar playing and beatboxing, she met his disrespect with two simple yet effective words – “Fuck off.”
Harvest Love, a song about the passing of her grandpa, was unexpected and extremely beautiful. The obvious pain of Sultana’s loss and the pleasure of listening to her perfected vocal tones was nothing but bittersweet. After giving in to Gemini, the excited room was given a powerful Notion. A rich vocal that rips right through her radically looped riffs and riveting drumbeats.
The shape-shifting stir of Synergy saw Sultana play her pan flute, blending the tantalising tune with her beatboxing before welcoming everyone to Jungle. Just as it seemed she had reached her highest height, the homegrown heroine headed into Blackbird and hit us with a 12-string, epic acoustic climax to close her show.
WORDS BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
IMAGE BY LUCINDA GOODWIN
Loved: Witnessing such an incredible talent.
Hated: That it didn’t last longer.
Drank: Good ol’ water.
