Opening the show tonight was Melbourne singer songwriter Lotte Gallagher who at 17 was a finalist in the Triple J unearthed High for 2023. What a great opportunity for her to join St Vincent on this exclusively Victorian run of shows as part of the Always Live initiative. While still a work in progress as she carves her own musical niche, Gallagher’s voice was her weapon. Definitely an artist on the rise and one to watch.
The main attraction, St Vincent, aka Annie Clark, has built a reputation as a musical powerhouse, not only as a singer songwriter and guitarist but as a producer and sonic sculptor. She’s famously collaborated with the likes of David Byrne and Taylor Swift as well as producing the Sleater Kinney’s last album The Centre Won’t Hold and has been on plenty of “best lists” since releasing her first album Marry Me in 2007.
The main attraction, St Vincent, aka Annie Clark, has built a reputation as a musical powerhouse, not only as a singer songwriter and guitarist but as a producer and sonic sculptor. She’s famously collaborated with the likes of David Byrne and Taylor Swift as well as producing the Sleater Kinney’s last album The Centre Won’t Hold and has been on plenty of “best lists” since releasing her first album Marry Me in 2007.
Touring on the back of her latest release All Born Screaming, Clark has assembled a top notch touring band to bring the production to life. Guitarist Jason Falkner, bass player Charlotte Kemp-Muhl, keyboardist Rachel Ethroth and drummer Mark Giuliana all brought their A-games tonight as Clark seamlessly led them through the intricacies of the set with her multitude of custom built guitars. Opening with a smoke hazed ray of light illuminating Clark surrounded by the silhouetted figures of her band, the explosion of light and sound revealed Reckless to start the journey. The carefully crafted set was like a theatrical production with the musicians being the actors playing parts that ebbed and flowed throughout the evening. Building tension, at times like a tightly wound top, Clark went from sitting calmly at the front of the stage as if conducting an intimate fireside serenade to a fearless leader, as she proclaimed “You know what I really want is for you to stand up!” The mesmerised faithful servants all happily complied as the band launched into Flea. The bulk of the songs played tonight, as expected, were from the latest release but the back catalogue was not forgotten. The bi-coastal Los Angeles and New York from 2017’s Mass Education were highlights with Clark launching off the stage and traversing the aisle on the latter, both sitting nicely alongside Broken Man, Flea and Big Time Nothing the first three singles from All Born Screaming. Cheerleader, from 2011’s Strange Mercy album saw Clark toss her guitar into the crowd and disappear offstage while an extended drum solo from Mark Giuliana had the rest of the band huddled down on the stage looking up at him as if awestruck. The guitar interplay between Clark and Falkner complete with synchronized moves to match the parts they were playing, was also a highlight of the evening. Birth in Reverse from 2015’s self titled album, saw them bouncing around each other like pinballs both physically and sonically; the energy seemingly relentless. After ending the set with All Born Screaming, Clark returned wearing an oversized black tour tee accompanied by Ethroth on mellotron keys to close the night out with the poignant Somebody Like Me. For all the theatrics and phenomenal production the show delivered, it was great to bring it all back down to the essence of the singer songwriter which was equally as solid and captivating. With the parting words “This whole adventure is fucking short and I’m so glad I got to spend tonight with you”, I came away with the feeling that tonight at the Palais we all shared the same sentiment.
Maryanne Window.
