Sarah Blasko, The Brunettes @The Forum, Melbourne (4/10/09)

Mon 5th Oct, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Charming New Zealand five piece The Brunettes, opened the night at the stunning Forum theatre with singer, Heather, frocked up in red and leading the group with her cute voice. The band was tight, well rehearsed and comfortable on stage, using samples, pretty xylophone, and percussive instruments including a triangle hanging from the bass players strap. They noted that they felt privileged and honoured to be supporting Sarah Blasko.

The stage changed for Blasko with a dimly lit stage featuring a snowy lake backdrop, with pine trees in the distance. The scene perhaps symbolising the time Blasko had in Stockholm with producer, Björn Yttling of Peter, Björn and John, recording her most recent effort, As Day Follows Night.

The album is a beautiful masterpiece; the feel is organic, and rich with texture. It shows her maturing, since her 2004 debut, The Overture and The Underscore, and her follow up, What the Sea Wants The Sea Will Have.

She was dressed theatrically in a white dress with wide brimming sleeves and looked stunning. The first track began with a thumping double bass line, rhythmic and moody. Blasko’s movement is rigid and robot like, I can hear some people in the audience mutter, – œWow hasn’t she changed?” And she has.

It really is about the visuals, the overall performance as well as the music for Blasko. Bird On A Wire and Down On Love, showcased the band’s musicianship. The theatrical Lost and Defeated really explored Blasko’s voice with her powerful and moving falsetto. After the song finished there was silence in the room before the applause from the very calm and attentive audience. Blasko had a light globe next to her on stage, which added to the performance turning on and off, to symbolize the changes in songs. Always Worth It altered the mood of the set, and as to show it, Blasko tore part of her dress down to expose a painted heart as she poured out the raw and emotional vocals.

Hold On My Heart, features drummer Jeff De Araujo, who often applies an additional layer of broken beats and percussion to the sampled drum loops. He uses the whole kit as a percussive tool and is brilliant to watch. We Won’t Run is a ripping track, though my favourite of the night was the sexual, Is My Baby Yours? featuriAs confetti is thrown in the air, you can see how Blasko is pleased with the show. And it is just that: a show, one for your eyes as well as your ears. ng nylon string guitar and bass. Blasko beautifully sneers, liberating herself from the fact, she may be sharing her love.

In All I Want, Blasko uses another microphone set up on stage for an effected vocal sound, another effort to break the barriers of expected perfection. No Turning Back is used to change costume, just like the track states, it is about change, and so Blasko pulls a string, and out appears a wonderful set of colourful sleeves. The crowd were in wonder, as they all clapped. Over and Over displays the wonderful back up vocals from the band’s guitarist.

Then the set changes as she moves over the piano and introduces her favourite theatre songs. The first one Seems Like Old Times, heard in Annie Hall, and the second from the Robert Greenwald’s 1980 film Xanadu, with Olivia Newton John (it’s OK if you don’t know it, its better if you don’t). Blasko admitted thar she hates the film, but she loves the song.

Before the encore, the crowd cheer for Blasko’s return. She enters in a black dress, symbolizing the different stage to the show. She performs mainly songs from her earlier albums, such as Always Worth It, Always On The Line, and Explain, these tracks enable Blasko to take on her old familiar stage persona, it’s kind of like seeing an old friend. This part of the set is definitely rockier, and enables the band to really perform with their hair going everywhere. Brilliant.