Stone the crows
The
crowd gathered at Brisbane’s premier live music venue, The
Tivoli, was filled with anticipation at what brother and sister
performers Angus and Julia stone might have in store for them.
I hadn't seen one of their live shows, yet am still
a huge fan of their latest album “A book like this”,
so I too was among those jostling for a top viewing posse to for
a ‘look see’ at what the siblings might showcase tonight.
Recently returned from a fairly lengthy and no doubt
exhaustive tour of the UK and parts Europe my hopes were set fairly
high that this show was going to be an intimate scrapbook of their
work to date.
Prior to their stage entrance though the support
of Victor Valdes a harpist with some Mexican/South American inspired
sounds to prepare the waiting crowd, he seemed to have little
impact.
A hush fell shortly after his conclusion to signal
to expectant fans that Angus and Julia and their band were ready
on stage.
Transcendence to another place, one governed by
folklore and festival motion, is what I instantly fell into.
Paper Aeroplane opened the set beautifully and Julia
became our clear host for the evening. Providing conversation
and thoughts behind each song played.
Standing with her, their drummer (Mitchell Connelly)
and accompanying pianist/guitarist (Clay Macdonald) and to her
right her brother, Angus seated and looking the ever ‘reclusive
swagman’, an unkempt beard under a felt hat and nary a word
spoken other than when he was in control of the melodies.
Julia, shy and slightly awkward herself seems somehow
still to relish her ability to relate with the crowd, an avid
story teller, introduction to songs allowed her to impart their
‘special’ origin.
One in particular she told was for the duo’s
friends who were married on a hill in Greece. As luck had it,
the couple of whom the song was written for, had recently relocated
to the Gold Coast and joined the siblings this night, able to
relive their special song, aptly titled, The Wedding Song.
Transfixed I stood, arrested by the fragility and
poise of Julia’s voice as she sang about being ‘
stardust
in her heart’, I was right there on the hill with the wedding
party in Greece.
This proved for me that the power of the lyrics
is only as strong as the emotion applied to it, and demonstrated
why Angus and Julia’s songs are so loved.
Following straight on from this beautiful moment
Julia saw an opportunity to tell another tale, this time from
her own love story. A cyber tale of new love struck between her
and a new flame met while in the UK. Julia held the eyes of the
house thanks to her ability to encase the crowd with lyrical symphonies
in For you.
Some revered tracks followed on from here, one where
Victor joined them on stage and of course Mango Tree was a joyful
highlight, starting acoustically and journeying into an energetic
and frenzied celebration of a song.
A clever device to enhance the ambient motion of
the duo’s songs was evident in their props and back drop.
The playing list appeared to itself be split into upbeat and energetic
songs. On one hand when these were being played they were characterized
by a blazing, orange sun and azure clouds swaying to the music
too.
Conversely, a contented ‘man in the moon’
rose to smile down on Julia as her angelic dulcet tones emanated
throughout the theatre large through the softer, intimate vignettes
of love and affection she shared.
A return to the blazing sun and the upbeat pace
returned. Diversity in musical instruments was apparent too. A
merry assortment of these was picked up and played by Miss Julia
throughout the set. I counted, the trumpet, harmonica, guitar
as well as the piano which of course gave much light and shade
to the style of the evening.
You’d not be mistaken to attribute a similar
vocal style in Julia to that of the luscious Mazzy Star –
Hope Sandoval. Especially when listening to her wind up her voice
and draw out the notes for delivery throughout, Hollywood.
Silver Coin and Soldier were special moments too.
For Angus my highlight was the previously mentioned arrangement
of Mango Tree, possibly because he took the lead and built momentum
but the final song A Book like this perhaps let him shine brightest
in my eyes a powerful and moving song to finish a beautiful evening
interlude.
A tapestry of woven arrangements was what the audience
was privy to, coupled with the wonder and intrigue of both Angus
and Julia’s distinctly different but complementary vocal
stylings.
If you’ve a chance to see these guys live,
trust me when I say it is well worth falling from a star for.
Ruth
Bailey
