Photo: Tony Mott
After Felicity Groom warmed up the sparse crowd, it was Melbourne's Oh Mercy who came in as main support. Having opened for the band for the entirety of the tour, their music was easily received by the audience. They proved a great choice for a support, and their focus on pretty lyrics and brilliant instrumentation suggests that they'll be seen a lot more in the future.
But there was absolutely no doubt who the crowd was there for. Little Birdy came out in black and white, matching their stage decor. The show was a somewhat of a memoir of Katy Steele's catalogue of spun pop tunes, from their first EP, with the much-requested and undeniable hardcore-fan favourite 'Relapse' and Big Big Love's 'Beautiful to Me', to Hollywood's 'Come On Come On' and 'Bodies'.
Then came the Confetti catalogue. Steele's voice has gone from an 18-year-old twee-pop novelty to one with a mature, soulful depth. 'Into My Arms' and 'Hairdo' were impressive to watch live, but the influences drawn from different bands - from The Shangri-Las and Odetta to the bands of the Motown era - were all on display. An ambitious attempt from Steele, but one she managed to execute with relative ease.
Not to say there was no time for shameless pop; 'Summarize' had the majority of the crowd up and dancing. It seems odd to say, but with a voice that was once considered as brash as Steele's, the advent of Confetti and the subsequent maturation of her vocals has ensured that the Little Birdy collection has something for everyone. The title track was the encore's closer, with a promise they'll "be back really soon, Sydney".
Carrie Dennes
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