Courtney Barnett brought her unmistakable guitar-driven sound to Melbourne’s Palais Theatre, delivering a performance that moved from understated intimacy to full-band intensity.
A sunny but chilly Melbourne evening welcomed audiences to the Palais Theatre for a hometown performance from Courtney Barnett.
Opening proceedings were Drifting Clouds, whose short set of beautifully crafted, electronic-driven songs provided a gentle introduction to the evening.
Courtney Barnett took to the stage with little fuss, accompanied by a tightly focused band. Her relaxed, understated presence allowed the music to do most of the talking, with minimal stage banter beyond the occasional thank you.
That changed after the fourth song, ‘Small Poppies’, when Barnett invited everyone to get up and dance. The lower floor responded, with fans leaving their seats and dancing in the aisles, remaining on their feet throughout much of the performance.
Musically, Barnett spent most of the evening stationed at her microphone, occasionally moving towards the drum kit. The stage production was equally restrained, with vertical LED lighting and shifting washes of red, orange, blue and green keeping the focus firmly on the musicians.
Between songs, Barnett checked in with the audience and wished one audience member a happy birthday.
A thoughtful addition to the evening was the presence of Auslan interpreters, who took turns interpreting the performance from the side of the stage.
The encore delivered the evening’s sharpest contrast. Barnett returned alone with her electric guitar for a quiet, intimate performance of ‘Mostly Patient’, drawing the audience into a tender moment. Then the band returned with ‘Canned Tomatoes’, shattering that intimacy as the bass thundered, the drums pounded and a wash of guitar unleashed a full-band onslaught.
‘Pedestrian At Best’ arrived amid harsh red and white lighting, pushing the intensity higher before ‘Nobody Really Cares’ closed proceedings.
After thanking her band, crew, venue and audience, Barnett departed to enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation.
Drifting Clouds
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett Setlist
Main Set
- Stay In Your Lane
- City Looks Pretty
- Avant Gardener
- Small Poppies
- Mantis
- Same
- History Eraser
- Need A Little Time
- Another Beautiful Day
- Depreston
- Site Unseen
- Great Advice
- Elevator Operator
- Sugar Plum
- Wonder
- Before You Gotta Go
- Write A List
- One Thing At A Time
Encore
- Mostly Patient
- Canned Tomatoes
- Pedestrian At Best
- Nobody Really Cares
Drifting Clouds and Courtney Barnett photographs: © Alexander Hallag
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