I wasn't originally aware that Connor Price's Melbourne concert at Northcote Theatre was an all-ages show, which was a very welcome surprise walking into the room; we need more of those these days.
Standing at the front of the barrier (24 October), the young members of the crowd were incredibly excited and eager to share some of their favourite songs and lyrics by Connor and support act GRAHAM with me, and what they hoped they would get to hear live.
It reminded me of some of my first shows, being able to yell and be energetic and excited for brand new experiences.
Finally the lights dimmed and the music slowed, before suddenly a burst of lights and energy as GRAHAM, well known to the crowd as the producer behind many of Connor's beats, bursts onto the stage, launching into his own energetic and jumpy tracks.
GRAHAM - image © Connor Mackinnon
He ended his set with a slower number dedicated to his wife, but this wouldn't be the last time we would see him onstage, as he would be behind the laptop running beats for the rest of the night.
We had awhile between sets, so I began chatting with the younger crowd again, learning some of the lyrics ahead of the headliner; once they learned that my name is also Connor it seems I had my 15 minutes of fame and they were all eager to get photos, many thanks to the parents who managed to get them to stand still!
Image © Connor Mackinnon
Finally the lights dimmed again as the screen showed a rotating globe that changed abruptly to a countdown; the crowd went from quiet to cacophonous in an instant as soon as the clock struck zero.
Connor launched onto the stage, setting the pace of the first few songs with the opening bars of 'Million Cash', the crowd matching pace without tripping. He's very mobile, making an empty stage seem full as he ran back and forth, catching the eye of every fan before effortlessly moving into 'Straight A's' and 'Cubicle', which sent the crowd into a frenzy, the pace a sprint rather than a marathon.
Right at the end of the opening set, he brought the music to a stop to engage the crowd in a riveting game of trivia.
After quizzing the crowd, he asked the age-old question; what's this hat? The crowd yelled in unison that it was a beanie, only for Connor to look aghast sharing it's a toque not a beanie, as the beats exploded for the start of the next set, beginning with 'Not A Beanie', which features another Canadian musical star bbno$, a high energy, tongue in cheek banger based around regional names for the aforementioned headwear, which he threw into the crowd and recorded videos on the phones of adoring fans.
Connor Price - image © Connor Mackinnon
Connor treated us to a number of songs he hadn't been performed live before, including 'Despicable' a boastful track offset by a video of him and his son playing in the background.
Moving through 'Push' and 'Dialed In' he picked fans out of the crowd who were rapping along, gifting them signed copies of his debut album 'About Time', showing immense gratitude to the fans every single time.
Something I noticed while writing this review and learning more about him, Connor seems to refuse to succeed only on his own. His previous compilation albums, 'Spin The Globe 1 and 2', all feature artists from around the world that Connor has handpicked.
An example of this that was most apparent was when he brought out local artist Benjo, also known as l!fe, to perform the song 'Buddy', which ended with such an electric chemistry that the crowd was chanting Benjo for an encore.
Connor Price - image © Connor Mackinnon
Witnessing this community that Connor has fostered all over the globe has quickly made me a fan. It's amazing to see a community of all ages being so supportive, inclusive and uplifting.
This goes beyond his collaborators and deep into the crowd, with the performance stopping as a fan needed assistance, and the music didn't start again until he knew they were okay. Very safe bet to say I'll be snagging a copy of his album soon.
I've seen countless shows and befriended countless performers as a result, and it is incredibly apparent that his career is going to continue exploding upwards. I'll be watching with great interest and I truly can't wait to see his next tour here, knowing it'll be a larger venue with a larger crowd and even larger energy.
More photos from the concert.
