Try as you will, it’s impossible to fully capture the spirit of Angus & Julia Stone until you’ve witnessed their live performance. Whilst some may pigeonhole them simply as a feather-headed folk duo caught in a permanent state of reverie, the first show of their Australian tour put these preconceptions to rest.
Playing to a sold-out crowd at the Thebarton Theatre, Angus & Julia Stone put on a spirited and unique performance that proved once and for all that they’re more than just a pair of new-age hippies, wielding aching hearts and delicate acoustic guitars as their only devices.
Having just collaborated with legendary producer, Rick Rubin on their third, and possibly best album to date, the self titled Angus & Julia Stone, one was unsure what to expect from these Sydney darlings this time around. Would they still be the same laidback folk act they’ve always been or would they have adopted the glamorous, high maintenance lifestyle of LA’s elite?
Decorated by an array of studio lights, glowing light bulbs and spiralling cymbals, the answer to this question came during their opening number ‘A Heartbreak’. Driven by a smouldering bass line and their apathetic vocal deliveries, this menacing opener quickly assured that whilst this duo had moved onto bigger things, they sure as hell weren’t about to put on an extravagant, U2-sized rock show.
Following on from this refreshing opener, the pair seemed quite eager to win over the crowd early, promptly launching into the jugular-hitting ‘For You’ off 2010’s Down The Way. Led by Julia’s agonised vocals and the tender plucks of a banjo, this earnest number instantly had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands, singing along to every word with an enthusiasm that cannot be bought but only earned through strong, honest songwriting.
Despite setting the stakes quite high for themselves early on, Angus and Julia managed to maintain this level of energy throughout the course of the show.
New tracks ‘Main St’ and ‘Crash and Burn’ translated excellently into a live setting, retaining their atmospheric qualities whilst also showing off this duo’s newfound rockier side. On the other hand, old favourite ‘Private Lawns’, which featured a lively trumpet solo by Julia, was a relaxed yet engaging affair that didn’t feel out of place amongst these new tracks.
As expected however, one of the finest moments of the evening came in the form of Hottest 100 winner ‘Big Jet Plane’. Framed by a starlit background, these Triple J sweethearts delivered a spacey rendition of this celebrated tune, keeping the crowd on their toes whilst still causing all knees to buckle and hearts to melt through Angus’ heartfelt vocals.
Then again, the task of winning over the crowd didn’t seem too difficult for this Sydney duo. Even in the moments between songs, both Angus and Julia managed to make the crowd swoon with their polite small talk and modest temperaments.
Throughout the course of the show, both remained completely down-to-earth, warmly greeting the crowd on several occasions and at one point, even openly debating which song to play next based on the crowd’s suggestions, implying that the notion of a ‘set list’ was all too proper for such a laidback occasion.
Whilst the likes of ‘Yellow Brick Road’ and ‘A Book Like This’ continued to delight the audience, some of the most fulfilling numbers of the evening were the handful of high quality covers that the duo had prepared.
From the short rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ injected into ‘Other Things’ to Julia’s Grease medley which quickly transformed from a sultry acoustic number into a full band extravaganza to their fervent, country-inclined take on The National’s ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, these covers were – to speak idiomatically – the cherry on top of an already delicious ice-cream sundae.
Finishing off the night with the wistful ‘Santa Monica Dream’, which featured both Angus and Julia at their most sincere and captivating, this closing number left a palpable sense of longing in the air – one which will probably stay with all those who were present until they have the opportunity to see this duo again.
Whilst there were a few notable absences in the set list (ahem, “And The Boys” and “The Beast”), the first show of Angus & Julia Stone’s Australian tour was an enchanting, laidback affair that pleased both die-hard fans and new punters alike. Whilst it’s undeniable that they’re not quite the simple-minded folk duo they once were, this show proved that Angus and Julia definitely haven’t lost their ability to charm and connect with an audience along the way.
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