Live Review: Davey Lane, Gabriella Cohen, Lalic

Lalic launch straight into a slightly off-kilter combination of lyrics and beats, almost immediately after stepping on stage. Their movements match the music, a slight sway becomes joltier as they move into more rocky territory, but still with that attractive beat. Fuck Love, their second song, hits the same crafted tone. Their lazy, indie-rock sound moves through the audience. The band resemble Placebo or Radiohead somewhat, but never cross into copycat territory.

Gabriella Cohen brings the attention straight to her. Her violin-playing counterpart silences the entire room. The combination of electric guitar and violin is eerily beautiful. Cohen's voice commands attention; a slow, intimate mood resonating through the venue. Standing at the microphone with her guitar, Cohen's subtle bobbing only adds to the now much slower, classical-infused music. Cohen's husky, bold voice makes the crowd sway. As the music becomes more intense, we're drawn closer to the stage. The mix of synthesised voices, keyboard and violin lets us know that nothing's off limits for Cohen, very early on. There's a tranquil quality to the atmosphere and several people sit cross-legged on the floor. Cohen's debut album Full Closure And No Details is well worth a listen.

Davey Lane appears, silently, on the dimly lit stage. Tuning doesn't take long and before we know it he sends an eccentric pop-rock melody through the crowd. Somehow Lane manages to sound simultaneously familiar and brand new. There are hints of Britpop in Lane's voice, which contrast Cohen's previous set. The crowd cheers without hesitation. "One bites off more than one can chew when one fucking records," Lane says, laughing before he launches into his second song. He is as charismatic when speaking as he is in performance. A sense of belonging surrounds the band as they play each worked-over note; this can only come from many hard hours of practice. The heavier, fuller sound of Lane's new songs is amplified around the room. Lane and his band are consistent in their energy, playing the new songs with fervour. This shift in mood further elevates with every song.

Dan Sultan is the surprise act for the night. Bringing in more intense rock, Sultan and his band maintain the energy level Lane and co set. Their onstage presence takes over the venue and the crowd moves forward to meet their confidence. All attention is drawn Sultan's way and he finishes the night with a string of strong tunes, capping off tonight's line-up with a bang.