The Jezabels, Hey Rosetta,Alpine @ ANU Bar, Canberra(19/10/11)

Fri 21st Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

In just a few short years, Sydney four-piece The Jezabels have become one of the biggest and most credible names in Australian rock, recently playing to mass crowds in the UK, the US, Europe, Canada and Singapore.
Along the way they have forged a sound undeniably their own; a feat relatively unmatched by many other Aussie acts. Of course, the buzz started Down Under, the band building a strong rapport with music lovers across the country.
On Wednesday night, The Jezabels returned to Canberra for the third time to play a sold out show at the ANU Bar on their nationwide Prisoner tour.

The ANU Bar stage area was spilling out the sides and although the small venue accommodated the band’s young fan base perfectly, it’s clear that a band like this belongs on the big stages of festivals and stadium concerts.
First support act, Alpine, not unlike The Jezabels with female vocals and emotive songs of love, opened the night to the slow gathering crowd, hungry for live music. Roping in the sell out crowd was second support, Hey Rosetta, all the way from Canada, sporting a lead who sang distinctly like our very own Xavier Rudd, before The Jezabels took the stage closer to 11.

The main act kicked off proceedings with new album opener and title track Prisoner; the opening horns filling the room like smoke, before launching into the rolling drums and fervent vocal cries of the epic tune. The intro gave way to radio hit Endless Summer, a clear crowd favourite. The hits kept rolling with older songs from the band’s previous EPs, such as Easy to Love, Mace Spray and Hurt Me, as well as new tracks from debut LP, all showcasing the band’s knack at writing triumphant and emotional sing-alongs.
While pumping out what felt like the loudest music in Canberra that night, the band was met with equal noise from the crowd between songs. Saving two of their best for an encore, The Jezabels belted out Sahara Mahala and early tune, Disco Biscuit Love.
Above all, it was lead singer Hayley Mary’s captivating voice that wowed. Mary’s voice is nothing short of incredible; emotional, spine tingling and constantly sea-sawing between sturdy and angelic, the sheer power of her vocals directly contradicting her tiny frame. Mary’s voice is soulful but not necessarily in the tradition of ‘soul’ music; every lyric and commanding cry is sung with passion and complete honesty, igniting all of the listener’s senses. The same praise must be given to the strikingly beautiful singer’s stage energy. She soared as high as the thunderous rock being blasted around her, swaying emotionally around the small stage and leaving the show looking like a solo artist with an anonymous backing band.

The Jezabels hold stead with some of the biggest international rock acts, in that their music translates so well onto stage. The brilliant drum work, the soaring guitars, the stirring piano and those incredible vocals contained in their discography absolutely soar when heard live. This, in part, is what makes the Sydney 4 piece so undeniably unique.

If the venue was good, the entertainment was great, and with barely an inch to move, the Canberra crowd was treated to one of the best live bands in Australia. Next stop: the world.