Killing Heidi ‘Reflector’ 25th Anniversary Tour @ Liberty Hall Sydney 27/06/2025

CALM DOWN, IT’S REALLY HAPPENING!

Calm Down there Superman/Supergirl, you read the title right! Aussie rock icons of the late 90’s/early 2000’s, Killing Heidi comprised of siblings Ella and Jessie Hooper, are taking a moment to fully appreciate and relish the huge success of their career-defining album ‘Reflector’, 25 years on, and what better way to do so, than with putting their Mascara on and playing the album IN FULL for fans all around the country, just like they did when they were teens!

So I guess you could say 25 years is a pretty good Reflector in which to look back on this incredible album. Let’s see if the band can pull it off just like the good ol’ days…

Tonight, instead of my usual opting to be a fan-girl up at the front barrier, where I can really gauge the atmosphere of a concert in a tactile sense, I instead feel like just chilling out and resting my delicately aging joints for this one. As venue staff assist me going up to the mezzanine via the elevator (unlike the old utilitarian elevators often found at venues such as The Metro Theatre and The Factory Theatre, this one is modern and well kept), and take a seat, even from here, leading up to Killing Heidi coming on stage, I can feel the crowd is charged with excitement!

So we know the band are playing ‘Reflector’ in full, but the album opens with ‘Mascara’ and ‘Weir’, arguably the bands two biggest songs, normally saved for the encore, so how will this go?

The band do still open with ‘Mascara’ followed by ‘Weir’, and understandably the crowd go nuts! The sound is spot on from the sound mixers, which excellently highlights Ella’s punchy vocals and I can focus on each other instrument sound individually without stain which is a real aural treat. I feel that in ‘Mascara’ Ellas voice in the choruses aren’t as punchy and attitude-filled as originally, but melodically she’s nailing it. ‘Weir’ is spot on in my opinion, and I’d say the crowd shares that opinion too by the sounds of it, the musical energy is high giving back what the crowd emanates but ten-fold, and my support worker tells me the on-stage energy is just as potently charged.

So after ‘Superman/Supergirl’ the energy on the recorded album does lessen in most parts, but the band keep the crowd fixed with reflecting on their time as a band, sharing engaging tales with the audience, giving fans the full experience, not just having great music played.

The band finish performing the tracks from ‘Reflector’ then after a small break, give us an encore, which contains fan favourite ‘Calm Down’ and my personal favourite, ‘I Am’. the only difference in this reflection of ‘I Am’ is I don’t detect that slight vocal-fry rough grit in a couple of notes in the chorus, but that’s so minor and insignificant.

Reflecting on the night, it was bloody brilliant! It didn’t drag out past its expiration date, coming in at a fraction under 90 minutes, was great support from the venue staff, the energy on stage and in the crowd was amped and above all else, the sound was ace and kept my full attention from start to finish!

Here’s to another 25 years!

The Living End @ Metro Theatre Sydney 16/05/25

G’DAY AFLIE

Oi, take a look any this cracker of a gig why don’t ya! Aussie punk rock pioneers and all-round bloody legends in the Aussie music scenes history, The Living End, have surprised fans, me included, with the news of a new song titled ‘Alfie’, the first new music in a whoppin’ 8 years. To celebrate, the band have announced two intimate shows, one in Melbourne and the other in Sydney, just in case this reviews title of where the show’s at confused anyone. The living end have been an integral part of my life in the concert scene, and I was only introduced to the amazing life of live music in 2008, these guys have been an integral part of so many more folks lives for a lot longer, putting on unforgettable high-energy rock shows.

It really is like reconnecting with an old mate after several years, so let’s see if time much has changed between us and our good ol mates…

so first off, this gig sold out well before the show, even with only having a week’s notice, so there’s a lot of us looking forward to reconnecting with good ol’ Uncle Harry, and this is confirmed by the packed line outside the venue of fans eagerly awaiting doors to open and then to fill the dance floor, not that you really “dance” at a sweaty pub rock gig like this.

Photos by Jif Morrison

The band start with quite frankly, a bloody-ripper ‘Roll On’. This song is met with the whole venue singing along to every word like no time at all has passed. The band are also exactly on point in sound and energy like they were always when they played at every festival, back when festivals actually existed in Australia, as well as pumping out there own albums and tours from what I can ascertain, but the night is still young.

Without giving us a single second to finish cheering roacusly after ‘Roll On’, the band charge straight into fan favourite ‘Second Solution’ kinda ironically named second song of the night. Still, no fault from the band dishing out the gritty pub rock vibes like the old days, and the crowd reciprocates nicely!

ok ok, there needs to be a bit of give in the energy at some point right? Nah, well kinda, as the band tear through their vast catalogue of hits like ‘All Torn Down’, ‘White Noise’ and’Bloody Mary’, the musical energy, and so too the bands, changes yeah, with being more extreme and crunchy at-Peanut Butter at times, to levelling out slightly in other songs, so the band don’t bloody pass out I guess, the over-all energy even from those ever-so slightly tamer songs like ‘Bloody Mary’, still exude a potent presence, adding to the nights climate.

All of this is while the band, lead by lead singer Chris, interacts with the audience on a personal level, like reading out aa girls in a wheelchair’s sign saying it was the first time she’s seen the band, and she’s loved them ever since she was 2. Chris talks to the hardcore fan, then to us, telling us stories about their career as a band, and of course performing their new track ‘Alfie’, which even though it only came out yesterday, everyone’s singing along too as if it’s a golden oldie from the band.

One very impressive classic move from The Living End, is Chris climbing up onto bassist Scott’s big double bass during the bridge section of cult classic, ‘West End Riot’. I was wondering if the band would still pull it off now, I mean c’mon, they’ve been at this for a time or two, pumping out the hard yacker, but they don’t disappoint, and better yet, don’t fall on their asses!

Now all good things have to come to an end, and a high velocity rock gig can only stay high velocity for so long, and I think if they dragged it out any longer I personally would’ve started losing enthusiasm, so finishing off the show with Aussie rock anthem ‘Prisoner Of Society’ then to cap it all off on a cracker of a feel good anthem, ‘Uncle Harry’ (I’m sure it was certainly a feel-good moment for old Uncle Harry, pissin in the bath after a few too many), it felt like a very satisfying gig!

Even though a few of those lower energy tracks might not’ve been my favourites, in an objective way I can’t fault the show, I only wish the band chucked in ‘Who’s Gonna Save Us’ and ‘Wake Up’, but there’s so many classics from these lads some are bound to miss out.

I absolutely love how you can go a few years without listening to some songs, but as soon as they start pumping, it thrusts you back in time as if no time has past, just like reconnecting with old mates!

Just grab a beer throw your arm around that mate, raise your glass and you’ll be right mate!

Lawrence @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 22/01/25

TIME FOR SOME FAMILY BUSINESS

Welcome to the family business right here with the soulful pop sensation that is, LAWRENCE.

Let me break it down for y’all, lead by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, this eight-piece pop/soul bands use of smokey, seductive and even moving use of brass and Clyde’s voice combined with dazzling ,energetic keyboard-lead pop elements with the funkiest of beats from drummer Sam, topped-off by Gracies incredible voice is testament to why despite this being the first time the band’s performed in Australia, both Sydney shows completely sold out well before these shows

The venue fills very quickly once doors open, and judging by the shrill excitement buzzing around me on the dancefloor, I’d normally expect this to be an indication of lots of pushing and getting all-up and personal with those around me, which I mean, if dinner and a drink is offered I normally don’t mind, but we’ll see. Luckily however, everyone around me is really polite, in good spirits and respectful of one another, it's a very good starting canvas for tonight!

So let’s start adding some colour and ‘zaz’ to that canvas shall we?

I honestly was dragging my feet a bit to bring me to the show tonight, I guess I just had a bit of start-of-year exhaustion, but straight away in opening song, touring album title track, ‘Family Business’ brings all those elements afore mentioned in my opening paragraph, and honestly, I can’t not smile and shake my booty, most likely to the horror of those behind me, but seriously you can’t not move to this funky music!

Clyde and Gracie interact with their audience from within their second song, and sustain the connection throughout the set, which is quite a lengthy one, filled with a beautifully curated blend of all the bands elements, highs, lows, sass, bite and everything in between.

I honestly am new to the bands’ music so I’m not too familiar with a lot of their tracks, but it really doesn’t matter, my interest, fascination and bum-wiggle stays throughout!

The sound you ask? Honestly, I can’t fault it, both from the sound mixer and the band! Both Clyde and Gracies vocals are nicely highlighted at the forefront of the sound, and I’m in awe in particular of Gracies voice! Going from happy, uplifting, attention-holding, to sassy, seductive, smokey, to larger than life brow-raising highs and deep serious melancholy.

The only somewhat negative thing I could say about the show, was I didn’t see a lot of movement of the band members. My friend did say after the show that Gracie did move around a lot, but still within her section of the stage. To be honest though, being an eight-piece band who need as much of their breath/energy for their instruments/vocals doesn’t leave a lot of space for moving around I wouldn’t imagine.

At the end of the day, the best most accurate thing I can say about one of Lawrence’s shows, is you can’t help but smile, get lost in the infectious blend of stunning sounds and dance shamelessly, ‘cause everyone else are too!

Definitely keen for the band to return to Australia, and I just hope wherever they perform, the venue has enough space for me to bring some of the friends to really well and truly break-out the dance moves!