Live Review: Amy Shark, E^ST, Alexander Biggs

On the first day of spring in Sydney’s inner-west, a trio of Australian singer-songwriters sold out one of Sydney’s premier venues, playing their music to an adoring crowd. 

With a decent scattering of people already, Alexander Biggs warmed up the audience. Playing solo, with a guitar, the Melbourne troubadour delighted with a selection of songs that exhibited the skill he has in crafting heartfelt tunes - along with a voice that would seriously melt butter. Seemingly not overawed by the venue, he weaved his way through a set covering tracks from his new EP, Whatever Helps You Sleep. He would have certainly picked up a slew of new fans.

If the trajectory of the headliner is anything to go by, support act E^ST should prepare; there is a bright future for the artist otherwise known as Mel Bester. Her music is certainly a more eclectic take on the pop genre, but it works, even on a bigger stage. Backed by a drummer and synth player Bester bounded around the stage as the crowd heard a collection of singles and the EP she released in her late teens. Standouts were Blowjob and Life Goes On, but new track I Don’t Lack Imagination - a truly excellent song - was great to see live. Bester belongs in venues like this.

For an artist that has worked so hard at her craft for over a decade the rewards, now that she has made it, must be so sweet. In the first of two sold-out shows at the Enmore, a venue she declares as “always wanting to play”, the vibe was electric.

The silhouette of Amy Shark has now become so recognisable that it’s a clever idea for her start the show side-on and in solo mode, singing You Think I Think I Sound Like God in front of the three-metre-high letters of her name.

From the second song, Blood Brothers, we were treated to the full stage set-up. A raised drummer and guitarist/keyboardist were somewhat out of the way to give Shark the full stage to work with - and work it she did. The love from the diverse crowd was huge; there’s a big cross-section of fans that connect to the music that Shark creates.

Shark wound her way through her number one album, Love Monster, telling us stories along the way, including one about a New Zealander ex-boyfriend and a phone call he had with his mum in a humorously accurate Kiwi accent. As if the crowd didn’t love her already, she announced that Sydney might soon be her new home. Are we ready to accept Shark into the Sydney fold? Oh yes!

All tracks, bar one, were performed from her album and the audience knew most of the words, particularly to All Loved Up and Weekends. A cheeky cover of Teenage Dirtbag was slipped in near the end - a track that can divide music lovers and is probably not the greatest choice of covers, to be honest. She saved her two biggest tracks for the encore, which, in her words, she hates to do. The crowd screamed along to Adore and I Said Hi like their lives depended on it and we said a temporary farewell to Shark amid a sea of gold confetti.