Live Review: Luna, Evangeline, Taylar Paige

A night of dark electro-pop: three powerful female artists, all from Melbourne, take to The Workers Club stage to strut their stuff on a cold winter's night.

Normally delivering progressive, ambient and alternative sounds, the opening act, Taylar Paige plays a stripped-back acoustic set. Performing an intimate mix of covers and originals, Paige has beautiful yet restrained vocals. She also has a cold weather remedy apparently - hot toddy (it's a whiskey cocktail). Drawing inspiration from grotesque poetry and horror themes, her sinister closer Murder is an intense but satisfying way to finish.

Lifting the energy levels in the room, Evangeline shifts the dark electro-pop vibe into full dance territory. Upbeat and with a mesmerising voice, Evangeline's vocals sit comfortably in the upper register without ever wavering. Stu Le Brander (from electronic duo, Killboy) also provides a sturdy backdrop of rock-solid beats and synths on the pads. When combined, especially on the final track, My Kingdom (William Black Remix), they create a lush pop soundscape that totally encapsulates the room.

Local dark-pop princess Luna has had a long and arduous journey leading up to her EP's launch. Suffering abusive trauma, depression and an autoimmune disease that left her bedridden for months, the Melbourne artist has channelled this darkness into her debut EP, Bad.

Coming out in a shroud of smoke to the anthemic opener, Goddess, Luna's powerful voice rings out as two dancers perform a sexy yet empowering routine behind her, setting the tone of what is to follow.

It's clear from the outset that Luna has done the work and is here to put on a show. An intricate lighting set-up with choreographed dance routines and smoke machines (set to 11) all added to the dark-pop aura created by Luna's soaring vocals and the pounding club beats.

While lyrically raw and unflinching - tackling themes of depression (My Blues), Fibromyalgia, abuse and control (Karma, Care) - the music is rich, layered with Eastern-tinged melodies (Fuck Love), percussive textures and pulsating synths.

Set to a blood red backdrop, Evanescence cover Lacrymosa is the pinnacle of her set and sums up the performance as Luna emotes a powerful message, "I can't change who I am".  

Sheepishly apologising in advance for not having an encore, Luna has planned her set down to a T, every detail meticulously scrutinised and executed to perfection. 

Flying from all over Australia to see her, the audience has been taken on a dark journey but emerged with a glimmer of hope as Luna has exorcised her demons by the end.