Missy Higgins/We Grow Up
Thebarton Theatre
Friday 25 May


If one had to sum up Missy Higgins live in one word, that word would be enjoyable. After over 300 shows over eighteen months in support of her debut smash album, 'The Sound Of White', Higgins has returned to that long and winding road with her follow up, 'On A Clear Night'; and the sold out crowd here at The Thebby couldn't have been any more attentive. And that respect wasn't just reserved for the main act as local Triple J Unearthed finalists, We Grow Up, were given warm-up duty. Possibly due to the over-extended between-song banter from vocalist Jonathan Mortimer, the band were hurriedly ordered from the stage by a distinctly heard voice from the wings before they had a chance to play their already announced last song. However, unlike such enthusiastic, nervous chit-chat, We Grow Up's lyrics and overall band arrangements are remarkably spare, confident and intelligently thought out.

With a short, sharp "G'day!", Higgins took to her microphone and launched straight into Secret off her new album, and from thereon the show effortlessly segued old and new tracks with their creator swapping between an acoustic guitar and baby grand piano, backed by her fantastic band. The sound this night was possibly the best I've heard from anyone at this venue, with Higgins's incredibly vast and expression-filled vocal range coming through loud and clear. And this is despite Higgins confessing mid-way through the performance that she was indeed feeling "a bit cloudy" due to her and others from her crew attending a strip club 24 hours earlier, thus allowing her to have a bit of fun throughout the show as she incrementally revealed more of their night of indiscretion.

As for song choices, fans were treated to a sterling set list as big hits Ten Days and The Special Two flowed beautifully alongside album tracks the angrily portrayed Peachy, Katie, The River, Nightminds, the wonderfully climatic Warm Whispers and the subtlety scat-tinged Casualty. Good heartedly announcing that it was decided there'd be no encore, the night came to a close with Scar and her current single, Steer. Although the side exit doors were opened and some people already through them, most fans weren't going to let her get away without at least one more; for this Higgins obliged with The Sound Of White.

Steve Jones

PIC: Andrew Stace