Review: Lauren Garrahy
Photography: JD Garrahy
Cast your mind back to 1999. In all its glory, this was the time to be alive for the Aussie music scene. The bands that we loved were full of angst, driven by hefty power chords and oozed every bit of rock star charisma you could ever want. During this time, one band burst onto the scene with every one of these qualities, and Aussie music was changed forever. That band was Killing Heidi. Tonight is a celebration of their debut album Reflector and damn I’m happy that I got to witness such an amazing album in this live setting for its 25th anniversary.
We’ll get back to the brilliance of Killing Heidi in due course, right now, we need to acknowledge and celebrate the artists they brought along on this tour. Leading off the night is Hassall, and if you aren’t familiar with her music, you damn well should change that. Singing about everything from the pitfalls of Tinder right through to the hatred of the sound of people eating (misophonia, for those interested. It’s real, and I share the same feelings), Matilda Hassall wastes no time in making friends with the crowd. With a voice so calming, yet so powerful all in one, Hassall is defiantly an artist you should keep on your radar.
Siobhan Cotchin and her band are up next and all I got is WOW! Taking the stage with a glittery guitar and black cowboy hat, I really wasn’t sure what I was in for. Mixing elements of country, rock and folk music, it’s plain to see why Killing Heidi have brought her on this tour. With a voice so commanding, Cotchin drums the crowd right up while guitarist Nick Gray’s licks’ just perfectly compliment her incredible vocals.
Add some damn groovy bass lines and percussive prowess and you have the perfect combination for one of the finest bands I have seen in recent years. As the set winds down, the ferocity of Cotchin’s vocals don’t dull whatsoever. Delivering some beautiful melodies, but also some soul driven viciousness, I simply did not want this set to end. If you have the opportunity to catch one of her shows, please do, I guarantee that you’ll leave as a fan.
Who remembers the 90’s? It’s safe to say that everyone in attendance remembers them well and has prepared themselves with lashings of ibuprofen and a few cheeky mid-week drinks in order to prove that we can still mosh with the younger generations (yeah, we invented that shit, recognise!). The lights come down and it’s not long before Ella and Jesse Hooper emerge from the shadows and launch straight into Mascara.
What follows next is nothing short of incredible, tonight we are treated to Reflector in it’s entirety and it seems like everyone has a favourite song off this phenomenal debut. Without a pause, the opening notes of Weir ring through The Tivoli PA and the crowd erupts, with everyone singing at the top of their lungs, Ella gives everything she’s got, but the crowd is here to show every bit of love for this iconic band by attempting to sing louder.
As the set continues, as I previously stated, everyone has a song that fondly reminds you of those high school days and how magical the soundtrack we had back then was. For me, this song was A Jar Labelled Small. With Jesse absolutely shredding with a look of pure joy upon his face, there isn’t one person in The Tivoli who isn’t grooving along to the beat.
This is 100% how the late 90’s felt, and the atmosphere tonight is rich in nostalgia. Stopping to talk to the crowd and regale us with their collective disappointment that they couldn’t deliver the Good Things Festival set they wanted to, it’s fantastic to know that this tour was created off the back of that experience, proving once more that Killing Heidi is all about their fans and just want to give maximum bang for everyone’s buck. For the record, Killing Heidi, you did, and you gave us so much more.
The band departs the stage after closing with Black Sheep, a further test of just how good a vocalist Ella Hooper really is. Now, we all know that the songs on Reflector aren’t the only ones they have, as this is a very accomplished band that has stood the test of time.
With an encore of 3 of their hits, it’s the perfect way to close out this incredible celebration of an album. Calm Down, Heavensent lead off and everyone is loving the vibe from these 2 songs, but the moment the harmonics in the opening riff of I Am course through the venue, the cheers are deafening (come on, you KNOW you loved Spiderman 2 and the fact a little band from rural Victoria dominated the soundtrack with this song, was beyond belief). What a perfect way to close the night out.
Let’s not wait 25 years to celebrate the albums that shaped our generation. Reflector was and still is a brilliant accomplishment for a small band. To hit the industry with such ferocity, and prove their worth was amazing to witness, so let’s not let waste any more time in celebrating ALL the music of the turn of the century Aussie icons. It’s what forged our love of music all those years ago.
– GALLERY –
