Alex Lahey’s been making pretty big waves in the music scene both at home and internationally lately. She’s been very busy while on the road, with a heap of brand new music in the works. She stopped into Adelaide on Friday night towards the final leg of her Wes Anderson Tour and I was lucky enough to witness just why her music is generating so much hype.
Adelaide local Bec Stevens opened, captivating the audience with her honest lyricism. She engaged the crowd through her entire set, performing in a way that effortlessly commanded the crowd’s attention. I’d never heard her music before, but I found myself going home and googling ‘Bec Stevens music’ after the show, absolutely charmed by her.
The Football Club took the stage next, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a musician as ecstatic to be on the stage as frontrunner Ruby Markwell. The “folk punk band from Footscray” came out in full force, playing fan favourites “Ivy” and “Girlcrush” to a very enthusiastic crowd. The audience could easily identify parts of themselves in the band’s sincere lyrics, which touch on issues of gender, relationships and mental health without filter. The Football Club were great performers, knew exactly how to draw in a crowd, and are an awesome example of just how great live music is – plus, they threw chocolate into the crowd, and I definitely can’t fault that.
The venue was packed when Alex Lahey finally stepped onto the stage, her entrance as laid back and casual as her demeanor. She played a bunch of well known tracks from her EP B-Grade University, as well as a whole heap of new songs that she had only just finished working on. Familiar tracks “Ivy League” and “Let’s Go Out” got the crowd moving, with Lahey’s lyrics resonating with the crowd thanks to their almost mundane nature: her writing is something the average person can see themselves in, and she turns it into some wonderfully catchy melodies. Alex Lahey’s sound is distinctly unique, but it’s also one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think about Australian music.
After testing the water with some new tracks, Lahey finally performed fan favourite “You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me”. It was loud, it was fun, and it definitely got the crowd moving. For such a laid back performer, she’s one incredibly charismatic lady. The room was buzzing, and with her next song choice being a rendition of Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn”, that buzz persisted to get louder and louder. Alex Lahey is an undeniably impressive musician with a whole lot of talent and she certainly knows how to put on a show.
The reviewer attended this show on Friday, June 2nd.
———-
