Live Review: Kim Churchill, Gold Member

Walking into the hall, it was difficult not to be mesmerised by the haunting echoes and orchestral-like views. It was an odd, but perfect choice for the night.

Gold Member may have been the first ever band to drop bangers at the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music, Verbrugghen Hall. The duo burst onto stage with an extreme amount of energy. Their electronic beats mixed with the reggae guitar riffs really got the seated crowd groovin' in their chairs in the track If We Fall (which is likely to be their next single).

From the moment Kim Churchill graced the stage, the aura of the venue lifted. Churchill and his band didn't see the need to ease in, as they started with three banging drums playing the beat of his track Single Spark. The lighting was enchanting, as it managed to set the mood with its warm shades of orange and red, matching the earnest and brooding tone of Churchill's vocal runs. He then started with a story, his tone managing to stay warm as he smiled and said, "Thanks for taking a chance on something a bit wacky," before ploughing into a reminiscent tale about him visiting 'The Con' as a child and dreaming of playing the venue. In the next track Heart Of You, off his forthcoming album, the evolution of his sound was evident, as a new pop contingent had been added with call and response tactics, singalongs and drum machine snaps to enhance the sound quality and catchiness.

Hole In Time, another new track, was a clear standout. A love song that left the audience smiling, people started clapping as the earthly guitar rounds resonated through the room. He sang the lyric, "this winter" although the song glowed with the essence of summer. "Fuck!" was yelled out from the crowd when Churchill announced he was playing Fear The Fire next. He then played his new single Breakneck Speed - which got a joyous reaction from the crowd before ploughing into his hit Window To The Sky. This was a remarkable moment where half the crowd got on stage and danced - the view from the back of the auditorium was a breathtaking one. To end the night, all instruments were unplugged and Churchill and two members of his band sang with their guitars and voices in perfect harmony, a faultless way to finish. His performance was almost impeccable.