Do you remember your first gig? That thought crossed my mind several times while at Alessia Cara's Brisbane concert last night.
I can remember mine like it was yesterday. KISS. Twenty five years ago. I attended it with my mum and grandmother, who had a sweet spot for Paul Stanley's killer rig. At the ripe age of 13, I was officially a member of the KISS Army.The energy, the lights, the sing-alongs – I was overwhelmed and elated, listening to fans scream for their cult favourite songs – and last night (6 May), at Alessia's first Australian show of the Love & Hyperbole tour, she certainly gave me KISS fever all over again.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Miss Alessia Cara. Brisbane was the lucky city to witness the first leg of her Australian tour, with a mixture of old and new – much like Alessia's incredible outfit choices over her many years in the biz.
After the incredible support act (think Alanis Morissette had a baby with Courtney Barnett), it was showtime. Naturally, the ladies loos were full of women trying to get in and out as fast as humanly possible, not wanting to miss a moment of the performance that was imminent.
Alessia Cara - image © Gaby Barns
After making my way around the venue, I noticed such a varied crowd including teenagers sitting on the floor, battery-charged phone packs glued to their iPhones in anticipation of the hundreds of videos they'd take to savour it all. No shade here – I wish iPhones were around back when I was their age and not lost to landfill via a Canon digital camera circa 2007.
After speaking with a few of the folk nearby, I discovered just how broad an audience Alessia has created. A mix of older crowd characters from Ballina, a 12 year old and her mum, definitely gave the night a deeper feel than your average gig.
The new album, in Alessia's own words, is a collection of songs with one subject matter in mind: Everything ends. "I feel like that's a daily struggle I have in my life – the constant awareness, impermanence in life; and that just happens as we get older, you know?
"Time goes by so much faster, and that's what makes us want to hold on and grasp every moment before it goes away. Just that much more," Alessia candidly spoke to the crowd like it was a best friend's brunch on a Sunday afternoon.
Alessia played a mix of new and old songs which, at times, felt like she was grooving between genres: funk, soul, and pop, with a touch of jazz. The crowd absolutely lapped up her duet with Zedd, 'Stay'. Its depth was felt throughout everyone's bones, and it certainly made the hairs on my arms stand up as if they were reporting for conscription.
Alessia Cara - image © Gaby Barns
Next up was 'Scars To Your Beautiful', a deeply profound song she wrote at the wee age of 18 – while many of us were getting kicked out of nightclubs. Closing the night with her acclaimed, Isaac Hayes-sampled 'Here', it was electric, sultry and moody.
I had a moment to peruse the crowd and noticed something that caught my eye: Perched on top of her Dad's shoulders was a girl, around 10 or 11, iPhone firmly held and videoing the action, as Dad held Mum in front and they swayed to Alessia's silky, sultry vocals. 10/10.
More photos from the concert.
