Princess One Point Five @Edinburgh Castle Hotel,Adelaide (20/08/10)

Mon 23rd Aug, 2010 in Gig Reviews

A very warm atmosphere greeted Melbourne outfit Princess One Point Five and, although the venue was not filled to the brim, the performance by all bands on show coupled with the friendly vibe around the place made the night a fantastic one. After a hard slog to get their show on the road, so to speak, the band put in a performance equally as captivating as the album they were supporting. What Doesn’t Kill You is an eclectic mix of tracks and my expectations were high of a similar sort of performance from the band on the night.

First up on the night was We Grow Up in perhaps a different format than what even they had expected. Considering the new two-piece set up had only got these songs together shortly before the show, the guys put in a terrific performance through the mix of dueling vocals and a combination of acoustic and electric guitars. They even raffled off a packet of marshmallows and a tin of hot chocolate which fortuitously missed everyone on its way through the crowd. The marshmallows were shared amongst the crowd, and the atmosphere became even more inviting and cheery.

Speaking of cheer, Cheer Advisory Council made their way to the stage next with their brand of indie-pop. The five-piece showed their versatility within the genre, and the use of violin and piano in their music really helped take their sound to another level. The band even cynically devoted a song to We Grow Up during their set. Their interesting style should hold them in good stead for the future.

From the first bars of I’m Not Ready, the second song on What Doesn’t Kill You, Princess One Point Five immediately had the crowd captivated. Playing with drummer Richard Andrew and incumbent bass player and lead singer of Cheer Advisory Council Ben Revi, lead singer Sarah-Jane Wentzki looked right at home throughout the performance, and I’m Not Ready was no exception. The soundscapes that the 3-piece produced re-created the album version brilliantly, with the delay-soaked electric guitar carrying the track through its highs and lows. Other album tracks such as Your Wedding Day and set highlight I Dare You displayed Wentzki’s talent behind the keys, and demonstrated the distinct variation in her voice through the lighter and heavier moments of each song. Rockier tracks Today and Quote Me also went down a treat with the crowd and got the front row dancing with a high level of enthusiasm. Upon hearing the DJ’s in the outside room, Wentzki outdid the background noise with her own impromptu version of Wild Thing, which successfully drowned out the original with ease. Other non-album tracks such as You fitted in nicely with the other numbers on the night.

This was a very special performance to be a part of, as it is clear that Princess One Point Five don’t get around the country very often. This band has a sound that would suit a larger audience, yet the intimacy of this gig made for a fantastic atmosphere backed by some magnificently warm music. Perhaps the band will choose to search for those bigger audiences in other places – as they say, “something’s gotta give”. There may be some substance in the album title What Doesn’t Kill You, and a move further afield could indeed make them stronger. For now though we can reflect on a truly great album and a fantastic performance from a band that deserve every bit of success that comes their way.