The Jezabels @ Enmore Theatre,Sydney (21/10/11)

Mon 24th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

In the midst of their headline national tour, The Jezabels have well and truly hit their stride. Out to perform material from their highly praised debut album Prisoner, the indie-rock outfit left us with no doubt that they are perfectly capable of making grand, awe-inspiring music. Playing to an adoring and packed out crowd at Enmore Theatre, the four piece took to the stage with the sort of confidence that you only see from the best. Making it clear to all that their name and sound will only continue to get bigger, The Jezabels delivered a thoroughly impressive set.

First band to warm up the crowd was Alpine, an indie pop six piece hailing from Melbourne. Playing music that manages to be both upbeat and relaxed, the band held everyone’s attention with their strong set-list of sweet bouncy songs. Combining the silky smooth voices of singers Lou James and Phoebe Baker with catchy guitar and synth rhtyhms, Alpine’s breezy delivery could be compared to that of The XX. Playing tracks from their EP Zurich as well as unheard gems from their upcoming debut album, Alpine managed to charm everyone in the room. The girls danced about the stage while the band played standout numbers Icypoles and Villages. Also treating us to their next single Hands, it was hard not to enjoy the band’s cheerful and playful set.

Next up was Canadian indie rock band Hey Rosetta! Also a six piece, the band’s singer Tim Baker lead the show with his heartfelt vocal delivery and endearingly detailed lyrics. Standing apart for their talented string section comprising of a cellist and violinist, Hey Rosetta! also showed off their versatility, alternating between softer and heavier numbers. Performing songs from their latest album Seeds such as Yer Spring and Young Glass, it was easy to see how this band draws such a strong following back in Canada.

The Jezabels opened with the dark organ chords of Prisoner while their silhouettes were cast upon a thin curtain, it was instantly clear that the indie rockers were out to give us a theatrical and powerful performance. All band members were dressed in black, yet it was mainly lead singer Hayley Mary who stood as the recipient of the crowd’s attention. Prowling about the stage in skin tight black leather pants, Mary held a striking stage presence. Showing off her ability to head bang and move about while always giving a pitch perfect, spine tingling vocal delivery, Mary is by no means a shy performer. Joined onstage by keyboardist Heather Shannon, drummer Nik Kaloper and rhythm guitarist Samuel Lockwood, the four piece put on a formidable show.

Playing a tight set with minimal chatter in between songs, The Jezabels moved quickly from one hit to the next. The band moved from Prisoner to Endless Summer, one of their many numbers that showcases Mary’s soaring and emotionally charged vocals as well as their dense instrumentals. Other crowd favourites included Long Highway and City Girl, being numbers that start out slowly to escalate into huge, sprawling choruses. Also bringing out much loved tracks from their EPs, it was easy to see how The Jezabels accumulated such a strong fan-base in the lead up to their debut album. The band’s EPs are a little less dark and foreboding than Prisoner, consequently allowing them to lighten the mood of the set with older tunes. Bringing out numbers including Mace Spray and Easy To Love, punters could hardly contain their enthusiasm, singing and clapping along whole-heartedly.

Playing a few more songs from Prisoner as well as She’s So Hard from their EP Dark Storm for encore, The Jezabels played a rocking set from start to finish. Both talented and driven, this band stands as one of Australia’s top indie-rock acts at present and they certainly didn’t disappoint this time around.