One would think that PICA – Port Melbourne Industrial Centre for the Arts – is a boiler room venue; a warehouse in the heart of the industrial Port Melbourne made for sweaty, rave nights.
However, for RISING Melbourne, Suki Waterhouse captured the grit and glamour of the Australian peacock spider species, a Sparklemuffin.Opening the night (7 June), Adelaide up-and-comers Swapmeet took the stage with a gentle presence before rocking PICA with unexpected intensity. Cruising vocals, twanging guitars and heavy bass drove the band.
If you've never heard of Swapmeet, they are picking up the pace. Previously opening for The Murder Capital, opening for Suki Waterhouse fit into the mix perfectly. It just felt right with their mix of punk influences and floating vocals.
Embodying the attitude and presence of rock legends like Stevie Nicks, Suki Waterhouse strolled onstage and immediately caught the heart of everybody in the room.
Opening with gorgeous cuts of VHS-like visuals before falling into the first track of 'Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin', 'Gateway Drug', the spider motifs flowed throughout her set.
Imagery of the spider species that inspired the album name popped up through sing-along style videos for her biggest hits, and a spiderweb for the gentler songs was a perfect tip off to her heavily anticipated 2024 album.
Playing through fan favourite tracks like 'OMG', 'My Fun', 'Moves' and 'To Love', punters sang along to every word. Between these, were the gems.
Even in a packed-out venue, Waterhouse created moments of intimacy with her fans between the peaks of her songs. Taking time to acknowledge fans, she invited one onstage to dance and sing with her to 'Johanna', took time to speak to the punter who was holding a sign, and pointed out another whose 'vibe she loved'.
These exchanges wove seamlessly into each song and made each connection special. Performing 'Neon Signs' from her 2022 debut EP 'Milk Teeth', Waterhouse set the scene for 'Model, Actress, Whatever'.
A nod to her first few years in Los Angeles, 'Neon Signs' and the feeling of being pigeon-holed, 'Model, Actress, Whatever' went hand in hand in the set. The rock elements and hitting lyrics in both tracks held heartache and release in the same breath.
Nearing the end of her set, Waterhouse announced the release of her 'Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin' deluxe album (out 14 June) that will feature six new tracks, before performing unreleased song 'The Bellboy (One Last Crush)' full of piano and acoustic guitar folded into a folk-inspired track.
Finishing the night with 'Good Looking', the highs and lows of the track, reminiscent of Mazzy Star with glistening vocals, was the perfect closure to the Australian debut of Suki Waterhouse.
Whether punters were fans, or bought a ticket to discover new music, the floating track sealed the deal of a night that drew you in and finished too quickly despite performing for over an hour.
The world Suki Waterhouse and her live band created by the trancing music, fun visuals and perfectly timed lighting pulled you in close like a hug, before leaving without a trace like a dream.
- written by Gabby Zgrajewski
