Project Description

MIDDLE KIDS

@ Oxford Art Factory

11/03/2017

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Aaron Christensen

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The meteoric rise to fame of Sydney trio Middle Kids is a rare feat in modern music. From tours with Aussie rock luminaries Gang of Youths, folk rock legend Ryan Adams and grammy-award winning indie-rockers The War on Drugs, the Sydney band have already proven their mettle on the local and international stage. The intimacy of Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory for Middle Kids’ hometown headline show afforded the band the perfect atmosphere to intertwine the old and the new, ahead of the release of their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Lost Friends’ on May 4th.

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As with any show debuting new material, it can be difficult as a reviewer to get the set list down without actually knowing the new songs. I can assure you, that Middle Kids are absolute world-beaters – having heard “about a 50/50 split of new and old songs.” “A sneaky little Sunday sesh” were the words of singer, lyricist and all-round legend, Hannah Joy, and it really was. A brilliant atmosphere, never before heard musical treats, amazing acoustics and balanced instrument volume (shout-out to the sound techs at OAF), and a vocal range that will make your heart break and stitch it back together in a four-minute masterpiece.

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Opening the set with a new track – the name of which wasn’t given – Middle Kids set the standard incredibly high, and never failed to live up to it. Following on from the first track was 2017 EP opener ‘Your Love’, an alt-country, indie rock song conveying a tenacious belief solidity and comfort of love in the face of overwhelming doubt. After this was another new – unheralded – track, showcasing the bands penchant for indie rock and alt-country fusion, when coupled with Hannah Joy’s vocal range, creates an uplifting atmosphere of hopeful perseverance. After this came new single ‘Mistake’, greeted by a thoroughly deserved, ear-shattering cheer from the crowd, before the slowly building beat of new release, ‘Maryland’ – where singer Hannah Joy lived for a time – and followed by EP track ‘Old River’.

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The band then left the stage, the lights dimmed and a pin-drop echoed through the venue. Hannah Joy was left on stage, armed with a guitar and a tear-wrenchingly emotional croon, delivering an acoustic rendition of the EP’s final track, ‘Doing It Right’. After the raucous applause and cheers, the rest of the band retook the stage and launched into a new track; ‘Don’t Be Hiding’. The stage presence of the band was something to behold; after forming in 2015, releasing a 6-track EP in 2017 and still almost two months away from their debut album, it would be easy to assume that the level of comfort on-stage may be a while away. Not in this case; the banter between the band members, crowd interactions, stage character and confidence was astounding. It’s one thing to be a highly talented band, but to carry themselves and own the stage the way they did for a relatively young act is amazing.

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Following on was the single that propelled the band firmly into the public eye (and hearts); ‘Edge of Town’; the tale of a girl swamped in uncertainty and indecision, realising the limits of control and finding solace in the fact. Characterised by the twanging electric slide guitar, the rousing crescendo, the drop from the last chorus to the third verse, before rising once more in tempo and feeling, determined in the final lines before exploding once more. After this, the band put their own spin on a pop-punk classic; ‘All The Small Things’ by blink-182, transforming it into a slow, tender love ballad.

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The third last song was ‘Fire In Your Eyes’ from the EP, before launching into another new release; ‘Please’, with a thick beat and heavy, wall of sound guitar. The encore of ‘Never Start’, left the sell-out crowd in a positively upbeat mood and was the perfect way to culminate an emotional, sonically outstanding hour of music. Middle Kids are destined for the top, and have made at least this reviewer incredibly hopeful that rock isn’t dead just yet. 

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