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TEENAGE JOANS
+ Aleksiah + Bella Amor
@ The Corner, Melbourne,
7th November 2023
(Live Review)

Review by Stephanie Tang

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Who runs the world? Girls! Teenage Joans have brought good friends Aleksiah and Bella Amor on their “The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest” tour. All acts on tonight’s Melbourne bill are female fronted Australian bands.

Aleksiah is the opening act, and quickly asserts herself as an emerging captivating force. As she took the stage, the crowd was treated to a mesmerizing journey of poignant lyricism and vocals that oscillate between vulnerable whispers and passionate professions, painting a landscape that is as enchanting as it is evocative.

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ALEKSIAH, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Aleksiah’s voice is strong but folksy, dancing between the ethereal and the piercing, capturing the audiences’ eyes like moths to a flame. “Ant Song”, a dreamy pop love ballad, swayed the audience into a collective trance. “Pretty Picture”, a melodic masterpiece, explored the murkiness of personal violation through goosebump giving lyrics, and unexpected transitions from soft jazz to grunge rock. Closing the set with her latest single, “Fern”, Aleksiah showcased her cheeky yet melancholic side, navigating her lower vocal range with superb finesse. It was a poised performance that belied her limited discography. This rising Australian talent truly left the audience yearning for more, and the room a whole lot more wholesome.

The bar gets risen again with second act Bella Amor, who is a genre-defying force. At only twenty years of age, she seamlessly blends indie, pop, rock, and pop-punk with a sprinkle of hip-hop influences. A powerhouse vocalist, Bella channels both old soul wisdom and the energetic charisma of Gen Z, creating a unique sound and personality that is endearing to many. Whilst the lineup tonight is young, the crowd is gender diverse with everyone super relaxed and clearly vibing the show.

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ALEKSIAH, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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“Play The Part” and “All My Friends Are High” delve into the complexities of love, the fear of not fitting in, and challenges of growing up, delivering a poignant narrative with an ironically light-hearted playful touch. Bella’s vocal prowess is a standout feature, navigating the soulful depths in her lower register to bright, sharp heights reminiscent of a piccolo’s notes. Her unapologetic and fierce personality electrified the crowd, especially during the rowdy anthem “Can’t Get Laid”. As a tantalizing teaser, Bella unveiled an unreleased gem “Rocks In My Pocket”, a brilliant, pop-infused track with witty lyrics that requires an immediate release.

Waiting for Teenage Joans, a dusky twilight rolls over the stage. Majestic mushrooms rise, and strings of flowers sparkle illuminating the stage. The familiar chiming bells of “Hospital Bed” start ringing and Teenage Joans are on! Blakers launches straight into the blistering guitar opening of “Honey (And Other Sweet Things)” as the crowd immediately joins in by singing and jumping along.

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Melbourne is the third show on their tour to promote newest album, “The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest”. After supporting the likes of Sum 41, Pale Waves and playing huge music festivals SXSW and Unify, the duo had no trouble commanding The Corner’s stage. The atmosphere was a rollercoaster of fun, light-heartedness, and frenetic energy. It was great to see a safe and accepting environment for the mostly Gen Z and gender diverse audience. Bravo to the bands and staff for exemplifying inclusivity and positivity.

The crowd enthusiastically jumped and sang along to “Superglue”, creating a high-energy spectacle. There was laughter throughout the night with jokes exchanged between the band and the audience. Acoustic versions of “Wine” provided a breather before the crowd erupted again for the unexpected but beloved “Terrible”.

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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The set continued with the highly anticipated “Candy Apple”, igniting a joyful mosh pit. “Sweet Things Rot” added a magical touch to the room, while “Ruby Doomsday” maintained its punchy drums and angsty feel, just as well live as it does on the album. The set was well structured, with each song carefully placed. Nearly every track from the new album made an appearance, including surprise crowd-pleaser “Tennis Skirt” and the quirky “Moneymoneymoney”. The ferocious sounding, emotional, pop-punk god-tier “5 Things I Can Taste”, absolutely raised the roof. Finishing the set off with “Kaleidoscopes”, I nearly choked up following the dizzying, frantic crescendo climax, as Blakers strummed out the last line.

Teenage Joans delivered a phenomenal performance, demonstrating not only their musical prowess but an eye for detail in creating an immersive experience with incredible stage props. The show served as a testament to the band’s professionalism, proving that age is no barrier to excellence. Even the opening acts, with only a few singles each, surpassed the performance of some long-standing bands in the current music scene. Teenage Joans have started a slow but surely impressive domination within multiple music realms. Tonight’s performance was top form.

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Check out Elise De Simoni’s (@elisedphoto) full gallery of the Adelaide event HERE

Check out Stephanie Tang’s review of the album HERE

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Follow TEENAGE JOANS
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

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TEENAGE JOANS, The Gov, Adelaide, 9th November 2023 / Photo @elisedphoto

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Press Release 24th August 2023 (below) HERE

TEENAGE JOANS
announce
THE ROT THAT GROWS INSIDE MY CHEST

+ Album tour with special guests
BELLA AMOR
DULCIE
ALEKSIAH

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AMNPLIFY – DB