Sia, Washington @ The GovernorHindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide(14/12/09)

Sun 20th Dec, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Adelaide’s own Sia Furler ended her second national tour for 2009 with a sold out show to a crowd of beaming faces at the Gov. The lucky fans that managed a ticket to one of the two sold out hometown shows were treated to a night of brilliant performance matched by stellar vocals.

Megan Washington is having a busy 2009 already supporting Oh Mercy and Kate Miller-Heidke’s national tours, playing the Paul Kelly tribute shows for Triple J and receiving great airplay, supporting Sia on her national tour is icing on the cake for the relatively new performer. In her short set Washington managed to pop a smile on every face in the packed Gov showcasing her pop/rock sound. Megan’s powerful vocals and the band’s playful antics added a great energy to the music. The set included hit single Clementine , boppy Cement and How To Tame Lions, the title track off her recent EP. Megan showed she is a gifted front woman demonstrating clever live vocal effects and mountains of energy.

Opening to *Olivia Newton-John*’s infamous Xanadu, the title track from the roller skating musical, Sia and her band emerged dancing in glow-in-the-dark paint transitioning to hit single Buttons. The crowd were firmly in her palm from the first note. Shedding the glowing clothes, Sia and her five-piece band were revealed and with the help of a young vocalist called Isabella launched into sweet Little Black Sandals.

To those who have yet to experience Sia live they will be pleasantly surprised at how funny she is. That is the talent of this performer- one moment the crowd were moved by her emotionally powerful ballads, then in stitches from the quirky humour and random thoughts she says out loud. She politely asked for anyone to heckle her which resulted in many marriage proposals from women for which she was flattered but pointed out is still not legal, so chants for equal rights were then lead by Sia. Talk of female moustaches, attempting to explain technical touring terms and screaming “let’s have a baby Adelaide” gave the audience a closer look into her quirky mind.

Sia was backed by a talented band with Samuel on bass, Oliver on cello, James and Felix on guitar and Joe on piano. The set moved in ebbs and flows from soft ballads one moment with songs like I Go To Sleep and Lentil to dance floor shakers like “public service announcement” The Girl You Lost To Cocaine.

Proof that Sia is our proud home-grown star was evident as she had those “Adelaide” moments throughout the performance. She was reunited across the crowd with an old high school friend, a child she babysat, said hi to her Mum in the crowd, and she thought she saw a friend’s Dad, which in turn made her lose the words in Academia.

It is with absolute credit to Sia as a performer that there are endless amazing moments to mention. My personal highlight would have to be the beautiful Soon We’ll Be Found with Sia singing the words through sign language in a flowing dance as well as with her stunning vocals. As I took a moment to look around the packed Gov crowd they were absolutely focused on Sia: silently watching.

The 90 minute set featured all the favourites off 2008 Some People Have Real Problems, a song from her former Adelaide band Zero 7, and a few new ones with Sia revealing her new album is locked away and ready; “I would love to give it to you now but the people that be have decided you need to wait until March.” Sia introduced her ‘surprise’ upcoming encore with a disclaimer that even though she is not a fan of encores because “you paid your money you should get your favourite songs,” she is not “in the business of depriving people from their climax.” Crowd favourite Breathe Me topped off a stellar night and for some a great way to end the live music in 2009.