Last night in Brisbane, at The Princess Theatre, was where it was at, with Ladyhawke bringing the goods.
Inside the venue (1 August), honoured with the task of warming up the gathering crowd is Australia's Bec Sandridge (rhymes with sandwich, so she says) with Dave Jenkins Jr. on drums.Well, I can tell you, this captivating performer has my weary eyes after a day at the nine-to-five flying open as she opens the show with her banging song 'Eyes Wide'.
Passion for her art is shining through in her vocal delivery and guitar chops, which make a striking spectacle for us punters. You could say the surf of talent is up as we ride the sonic waves of 'The Jetty' and 'High Tide' with wild abandon.
Sandridge is asking us all what we did today and I think we were not expecting that; while most of us stayed silent I could her a few call out "work!" and another "got diagnosis of ADHD!".
Bec Sandridge - image © Clea-marie Thorne
A gorgeous yet sombre melody ensues with 'Easy To Go Bad' and Sandridge appears to be either singing into her guitar or imitating Jimi Hendrix, lol. What's going on?! Next we are getting slapped about the ears with 'You're A F...ing Joke' and it is anything but – get this earworm in your playlist!
Sandridge apologises to a friend for not wearing slippers to the show tonight – you can actually imagine her doing just that and she promises to do so at a future show. Punters are bopping out to 'In The Fog, In The Flame' offered next. We are lapping up that sensational sucker as well as licking our lips afterwards.
Closing out her set with the groove of 'Cost Of Love', Sandridge is leaving us a whole lot hotter than before we met her presence onstage.
We get a short interval while the stage is prepped for our eagerly anticipated headliner, Ladyhawke. Pip Brown better known as Ladyhawke is a woman layered in many musical talents honed since she was child.
Tonight we celebrate with her the fifteenth anniversary of her 2008 self-titled debut album. Before us is a dimly lit stage as the intro unfolds. The smoke machine has been busily pumping fog during the break and is creating a magical ambience that totally vibes with her opening song, the classic and timeless banger 'Magic'.
Ladyhawke reminds us of her love of percussion framed by one of the three triangles which are illuminating the space where each of the musicians are onstage.
Ladyhawke - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Manipulating Woman' follows and while there is a healthy crowd supporting tonight's show I have room to breathe and boogie, and it's feeling like a very intimate show just for us.
Our leading lady is exuding strength and confidence, but she does so in a manner that is keeping this ambience as she entertains us impeccably while appearing very chill and relaxed. Ladyhawke even takes a breather here to take in a little Q&A from her fans in the crowd. Another unexpected delight tonight.
It's confirmed we are receiving the whole 'Ladyhawke' album track for track tonight. The knowledge the next song is 'My Delirium' sets off all the punters on the lower level of the venue into a dancing and singing frenzy.
It would seem fans have been holding it all in for this banger – the venue is going off! The vibe has escalated to elation and is so infectious even the sound and lighting dudes are rocking out to this catchy number.
'Better Than Sunday' keeps the vibe high – I feel like I'm with a bunch of my besties who, after a few glasses of red, have decided it's a great thing to hold a disco in the lounge room inviting all the neighbours to come join our revelry!
There is a comfortable connection between the performer and her fans as 'Another Runaway' elicits another outburst from the choir of fans and I am in awe of the riffage on display. 'Love Don't Live Here' keeps the toes tapping as they lift off the ground when we start rocking out full swing to 'Back Of The Van'.
Swapping her fluro Jackson for her old, trusted axe so it doesn't feel left out, we are up for 'Paris Is Burning' (no folks that was just Gojira opening the Olympics; IYKYK). Ladyhawke also smashes the electric drum pads in ecstasy it would seem to ignite our auditory senses even more! Seriously though, this is a banger and it is bleeding Gary Numan's 'Cars'. I can't be the only one that thinks this?!
Ladyhawke - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Fans are helping her out with the vocals without an invitation, and as there is no objection we continue to do so with one of my favourites from the album, the synth-tastic 'Professional Suicide'. I forgot how bouncy it was.
Ladyhawke tells us it is 'tamborine time' and as she plays and we sing, I am taken back to music lessons at school and get a visual of a little black ball jumping across the transcribe text of the "na, na, nah's". "Na, na, nah, na, na, na," we are singing.
The Princess' roof is surely lifting with the rocking 'Dusk Till Dawn' that has our hips gyrating to its awesome groove. While it feels like a very intimate show do not think for a minute this means Ladyhawke is holding back. Hell no! She's belting out her songs and tearing it up on the axe with precision and professionalism. Hand on heart, tonight she is on fire.
Ladyhawke - image © Clea-marie Thorne
'Crazy World' is before the last song 'Morning Dreams', an almost wistful ballad which is Ladyhawke's most favourite song to play live at the moment, so I hear. Ladyhawke asks us if we want her to go through the encore ritual and we let her off the hook. For our consensual response, we got another four songs instead of the intended three. Yeah, Brisbane!
Starting with 'My Love' and ensuring we leave fully satiated, Ladyhawke has kept her PNAU cover 'Embrace' as our dessert – it's as enchanting as it's delectable! Fans explode with loud cheers in thanks for a memorable and totally lit performance. We are even privy to the fact there may be more coming to us in the same vein of the last cover.
Being one of the hundreds here tonight that got the full live album experience and then some, I feel extremely blessed as who knows when this may be on offer again.
Ladyhawke - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The sound, lighting and venue added to the stellar performance of Ladyhawke that made it an impactful show and proved Ladyhawke and her 15-year-old synth-rock-pop hits still got it going on the 20s! Let there be more to come.
More photos from the concert.
