GIG REVIEW: FOLK BITCH TRIO AT CORNER HOTEL
FOLK BITCH TRIO AT CORNER HOTEL, 13/09. PHOTOS BY ISABEL ELLIS
Following the release of their debut album, ‘Now Would Be A Good Time’ (released July 24th), Folk Bitch Trio played two sold-out shows in Melbourne, back on their home turf after months touring abroad. A Saturday night in Richmond, the streets were peppered with noise and bustling with people, and the evening was alight. In the darkened bandroom of Corner Hotel, Folk Bitch Trio played their album with poise and grace, a performance that was nuanced and evocative.
Their debut album is a stunningly beautiful collection of songs, all delicately arranged and composed with lush harmonies and raw, honest lyrics. This was the fourth time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live, and yet I was captivated the entire time, mouthing along to the words. The stage was set with three lamps, setting a soft and cosy atmosphere, paired with the acoustic sounds of both the support acts, Milly Strange and Katy Kirby, both of whom gave strong performances.
The album itself is about “the turmoils of being in your 20s, and the pathetic little tragedies that you have” as described by the band in a recent interview with The Guardian, with songs spanning heartbreak, relationships and the ups and downs of life, documented with a candid ease. The three’s vocals blend together gorgeously, with harmonies that raise goosebumps and often go somewhere slightly unexpected. In a live setting it only is magnified, echoing throughout the room.
The gig began with Folk Bitch’s harmonised acapella version of ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ by Australian band The Angels, paying homage to their Aussie roots. The audience immediately chimed in with the response chant “no way, get fucked, fuck off” that every Aussie knows and loves, building a community together in that bandroom from the very first moments of the performance. The first few songs were also played acapella, emphasising the trio’s gorgeous harmonies and commanding presence as just the three of them, mesmerising the entire audience from the start. After the achingly beautiful ‘Hotel TV’, ‘Moth Song' and ‘That’s All She Wrote', the band joined them on stage, adding that extra punch to the songs.
Despite Folk Bitch saying they were nervous to be playing at home it did not correlate on the stage, as they settled into each of the songs with ease. The entire set sounded incredible, from the textured echoey sounds of ‘The Actor’, to the soft sadness of ‘Mary’s Playing the Harp’. One of their first ever songs ‘Edie’ even made an appearance, drawing the audience in to see the band back to its origins. The only song missing was ‘I’ll Find a Way’, swapped out for The Angels cover. On stage, the carefree banter and swapping of the lead vocalist and harmonies for each song showed how connected and in sync the trio really are.
The set ended with ‘God’s A Different Sword’, released late last year, and the entire crowd sang along, before begging the band to return for an encore. The trio came back for two of their older tracks, their sensational cover of the Boys Next Door’s ‘Shivers’ and their own ‘Analogue’, a beautiful single that has become one of their most popular songs. These last two songs were the perfect way to finish the night, taking it back to some of their older and well-known songs, in such a way that tears started to well.
Folk Bitch Trio is one of the most impressive live acts and Australian artists circulating at the moment. Their music is polished and vulnerable, conveying life in your 20s, with moments of joy, sadness, anger and love.
Listen to ‘Now Would Be a Good Time’ on all streaming platforms now!