Killing Heidi @ Rubys(02/09/06)

Tue 5th Sep, 2006 in Gig Reviews

Ella and Jesse Hooper’s acoustic performance to a packed Ruby’s Lounge last Saturday was a taste of what is to come, as they try out something different from their super-successful band, Killing Heidi.

Not since they won Triple J’s Unearthed competition with their song ‘Kettle’ (which they left off the set list), has the brother and sister duo gotten together for a real show and it was one not to be missed by any true KH fan.

But don’t stress, the as yet unnamed project will be doing more of the same over the next six months alongside some limited KH dates.

In the intimate setting that Ruby’s is famous for, they played some old KH songs and some new songs that were written and recorded in their mother’s house in Violet Town.

The sweet vocal melodies and Ella’s newfound confidence in her voice echoed through the venue and it was a nice change to be able to hear every detail without the droning sounds of electric guitar and drums.

Since having throat surgery a few years back, Ella continues to set new boundaries with her voice and I was lucky enough to catch their somewhat late sound check with a handful of others.  It was totally awe-inspiring and that was before the show had even started.

They began with a treasured KH song in ‘1,2,3,4,5’ from Present before treating the crowd to their better known single ‘Calm Down’, which is when Ella professed that tonight was evidently “not a rock show”.

But that didn’t stop her from having a bit of a dance and she didn’t hold back.

They tried a new track called ‘Holiday’, which was a real pop pleaser about longing for someone, but let it be known it was nothing like Dannii Minogue’s song of the same name (thank Christ).  ‘Live Without It’ followed and was a groovy new track that showed just how far they have come from their Reflector days.

“It is time to grow up,” Ella joked after hearing the positive response from the audience. “No, not really.”

Fresh from a support act alongside INXS in Brisbane, Ella and Jesse looked at home on the red couch at their self-confessed favorite venue as they kicked into ‘Outside Of Me’.  Another brand newie ‘Middle Path’ followed highlighting Ella’s more open and exposed lyrics. 

They played a couple of tracks still under construction, (although you wouldn’t have known it) and then Ella quietened the crowd for their softest song on offer, ‘The Waiting’, which contained a lot of do-do’s and whoa’s.  ‘Heavensent’ was next before Ella’s new favorite song ‘Things You Do’, which is her version of a love song.

Everyone edged closer for the song that began their amazing journey ‘Weir’, as Ella sought some help from the crowd in the tricky interlude.

An experimental version of their Spiderman 2 theme song ‘I Am’ mixed it up before they ended on a sad note with a new song Ella said she just had to write.  “It feels good to have finally written it,” she said.

It made everyone else feel good too, having witnessed 80 minutes of something spectacular and rare.

I can’t wait for the finished no-name product.

Other tour dates with Ella and Jesse Hooper (acoustic):
September 5: Fairfield Hotel, NSW.
September 7: Penrith RSL, NSW.
September 8: Crest Hotel, NSW.
September 9: Fitzroy Hotel, NSW.
September 10: The Vanguard, NSW.