Image Credit: Daniel Boud
It’s been reminded to me quite a few times – by the band and others – that I was the first person to ever publish written work about a group formerly known as The Preachers. It’s not something I bring up now because I feel I’m entitled to take some glory from this fact, I didn’t even know it was they case until they told me it last year, but rather set the scene for this piece, which – some five years later – sees the band conquering the world and selling out a show in Australia’s most prestigious venue, the Sydney Opera House.
Today known as The Preatures, it has been a joy to watch this now-Googleable five piece grow into one of our countries most talked about groups, and tonight’s sold out show in the House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre – part of Vivid Festival – felt sort of like a rebirth for the band in the city they call home. A bold statement that screamed – Sydney, we were born in your ooze, and now we’re primed and ready to take over the world. Though even their lead vocalist Izzi Manfredi seemed to feel that the opportunity was a bit premature in a venue normally reserved for bands at (or well past) their peak – “we’re just getting started!”, she promised.
Image Credit: Daniel Boud
The set, naturally, took us primarily through their debut fill length Blue Planet Eyes. But being a hometown show, they squeezed in old favourite “Take a Card” in the two song encore, giving Gideon Bensen – whose vocal presence was largely put on the back pedal for their debut LP – a chance to test out his vocals in the iconic venue (to great applause from the fans). But it was Izzi who owned the show, having transformed into a world class performer in her years on the stage. She knows how to work with crowds big and small and brought in more and more energy from the audience as the show continued, playing every part the rock star. Though being at home tonight, it seems there’s little work she and the band need to do to win anyone over.
Highlights of the hour or so long set included “Business, Yeah”, “Better Than It Ever Could Be” and “Threat”. A surprising stand out moment was a cover of the classic Angels track “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”, which brought the audience to their feet, chanting the impassioned response “No Way! Get Fucked! Fuck Off!”.
They also snuck in a new song, “about the joys of fucking up”, and lyrics like “it doesn’t have to be perfect”. It was the first time they played the new song, which saw Izzy on the guitar and bring on a more Country vibe; it was a welcome addition to the set indeed and given how much time they’ve been spending in the USA, makes perfect sense. If this is a direction they’re heading, sign me up!
After their hit single “Is This How You Feel?” closed out the main set, “Take a Card” and “Cruel” took us home, and took us back to some of the bands earlier days, playing the smaller clubs and making a name for themselves (changing it in the process). The major difference now really is that this is Izzi’s show, the light of the stage focused on her, while the band stand largely in the shadows; Jack occasionally joining Izzi in the light for a guitar jam or a moment of chemistry. It wasn’t always like that, and though I respect the importance of the audience’s gaze directed on the one up front, it is strange to see the focus lost on what is a truly talented group of musicians, having followed them for so long.
Indeed, The Preatures are on the cusp of world domination, and as Izzi said herself, with only a debut full length on the shelves, they’re only just getting started. That may be true, but five years in, it’s been a pleasure watching them as they’ve risen the charts, grown as a band and made some pretty damn fine music in the process, if I do say so myself. This isn’t the tip of the iceberg, but it will surely be a night that the band – nor their fans – won’t soon forget.
Vivid Festival continues at the Sydney Opera House through 8th June 2015.
