Project Description

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KILLING HEIDI.

KILLING HEIDI
+ Siobhan Cotchin
@ Magnet House, Perth,
21st June 2025
(Live Review)

Review by Amy Smith

Photos (The Gov, Adelaide, 20th June 2025) by Elise De Simoni (@elisedphoto)

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Killing Heidi

Killing Heidi / Photo – @elisedphoto

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It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since Australian rock icons, Killing Heidi, released their breakthrough debut album, Reflector. For many young Australians growing up in the early 2000’s, this was the soundtrack their youth. The raw surge of teenage emotion captured on Reflector resonated deeply with listeners. Tonight was a celebration of this masterpiece and a chance to reconnect with those feelings. The love for this band has clearly not waned, with this show selling out well in advance. And that love is reciprocated by the band; Not even a random airport strip search and having to change a flat tyre in the pouring rain earlier in the day could keep them away!

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Siobhan Cotchin

Siobhan Cotchin / Photo – @elisedphoto

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The cold, stormy weather also didn’t stop a large crowd from gathering outside Magnet House early, waiting for doors to open. Many keen to catch singer-songwriter Siobhan Cotchin, a WAM Award-winning Perth local. She entertained the crowd with her original material as well as a couple of well chosen covers. Siobhan’s Rock’n’Roll version of Britney’s Gimme More and Sheryl Crowe’s If It Makes You Happy had everyone singing in unison.

“I have a lot of feelings. I should probably go to therapy” Siobhan mused as she regaled us with songs about shitty friends and broken relationships. Her raw honesty and spirit certainly would have won her more new fans tonight. It has to be said that Killing Heidi might just have been some her biggest fans in the building tonight. Ella Hooper cited her as the “Future of music” and Jesse Hooper proudly repped her merch.  “I’m totally chill about this” Siobhan uttered while her body language screamed the opposite.

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Killing Heidi

Killing Heidi / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Well! Talk about an explosive start to a show! Usually, bands will save their most well known and popular songs for the end of the set. However, because this show was all about playing Reflector in full, from start to finish, it meant opening with two of Killing Heidi’s biggest tracks Mascara and Weir. It was full throttle from the get go, and honestly, there was not much time to rest.

Reflector is full of youthful energy and Ella Hooper was worried that she may not be able to keep up with it. From the way she was bounding around the stage, you wouldn’t be able to tell! She used every inch of the stage, interacted with everyone within reach (Both the band and fans), rolled around on the floor, jumped off the drum riser- Her vitality would have you believe that it was still the year 2000!

In fact the whole band radiated such enthusiastic energy that was impossible to be unaffected by it.  Bassist Phoebe Neilson and  keyboardist Clio Renner couldn’t wipe  the smile off their faces. Drummer, Adam Pedretti, had a playful energy from behind the kit. Jesse Hooper expressed his genuine joy and gratitude multiple times throughout the night; That this album had connected with people on such a deep level that they were able to tour and sell out shows 25 years after its initial release. Fans were all too happy to reciprocate this love, reconnect to their teenage selves and passionately scream every word back at the band.

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Killing Heidi

Killing Heidi / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Ella laughed about the album being an emotional roller coaster. “Yep. We did THAT!” she chuckled as the band moved through the lively Superman/Supergirl to ballad-esque Astral Boy before bringing the intense fury back with Leave Me Alone. Yes, it did give us a bit of whiplash! But we weren’t complaining.

It felt a bit backward ending the set with Calm Down and I Am, which are usually the set openers! But it worked! The crowd gathered up all their remaining energy and poured it into the last few songs, clearly wishing that this moment would last forever.

We certainly returned to our raucous teenage selves tonight, but I wouldn’t say enough to warrant the police presence that was apparent at the end of the night. I’m not sure what went down, but even this did not dampen spirits. “Goodbye Mr Policeman” one lady said jovially as we all shuffled out with the biggest smiles on our faces.

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Killing Heidi

Killing Heidi / Photo – @elisedphoto

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Check out the full gallery (The Gov, Adelaide, 20th June 2025) by Elise De Simoni (@elisedphoto) HERE


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Killing Heidi

Killing Heidi / Photo – @elisedphoto

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