Live Review: Mikhael Paskalev, Little May

Walking into a different Alhambra Lounge, romantically designed for earnest live music rather than for the young singles scene that usually dominates the venue, the crowd's buzzing, the fairy lights dimmed – a perfect cap to a stressful Tuesday in the office.
It doesn't take long for the audience to migrate, beers in hand, towards the quaint stage, as Little May nonchalantly walk on up. With an initial timidness and innocence, the six members of Little May smoothly roll into their first songs from their upcoming EP, not yet garnering the full attention of the crowd as they continue to chatter away. But, the pounding percussion, charming charisma and genuine love for their music that exudes from each member prove to be forces too strong for even the 'Chattiest Kathy' to fight, with their penetrable song Bones bringing Alhambra to a captivated standstill. Soon transitioning into their more popular singles Boardwalks and Hide, prompting the audience to cheerfully sing along, Little May vanquish all reservations and mirror the crowd's enthusiasm. With delicate harmonies and naturally demure, Little May capture each Alhambralite in a trance, leaving the audience with beaming smiles and kindled hearts, proving themselves an endearing opener for the quirky taste of Bulgaria to come.
Sending girls into squealing mayhem, Mikhael Paskalev and his band walk onto the stage with a noticeable bounce and excitement in their step. If you didn't know any better, you would have thought they belonged in a computer lab, as they were each donned in 1980s-reminiscent and pastel-based apparel, channelling a quintessential geek. But, quickly quashing all nerd impressions, Paskalev proves the old saying 'never judge a book by its cover'. Roaring electric guitars, intense drums and the most energetic and physically vigorous tambourine playing imaginable introduce Paskalev's versatility on the back of his well-known hit, I Spy. Oozing a European charm and a darling accent that melts hearts, Paskalev introduces his many “love” songs and tales of Australian wildlife encounters to an increasingly swooning audience, girls now pushing their way into the few and already tight gaps in the crowd. The drummer's zany technique – seeming to jump out of his skin with each beat, his bouncing 'fro taking on a life of its own in the process – adds quirky and welcome humour, while the powerful Sayonara Saigon was served up on a more serious note. And then I Spy - the game changer. The instant Paskalev reaches for his trusty harmonica, a sudden surge of iPhones and ear-piercing screams mark the hysteria taking over, capping off a dazzling Brisbane debut for the Norwegian-Bulgarian singer and his wacky band.