As the boisterous and eclectic crowd at the Toff In Town lull, the house tunes drop. Behind the curtain, what can only be described as a mish-mash of messy electro fusion begins to stir.
Without warning, the curtains part and through the fog steps the steamy and sultry Abbe May, drink in hand, accompanied by her three-piece band, ready to showcase her latest creations.
The walls of the venue buzz with heavy beats and anticipation, similar to those that would be expected in the lead up to a DJ’s performance.
With no introduction the music starts and the now transfixed audience is led down a shadowy path with May almost screeching rather than singing through her first two songs.
This is the final leg of the Kiss My Apocalypse tour and it’s a hell of a lot different than the Abbe May from her previous album.
The most noticeable change in the artist’s music is the fundamental shift from that raw rock feel to a far more contemporary electronica vibe.
Filled with heavy, often slow moving beats reminiscent of the work of artists like Mr Little Jeans, the new Abbe May is definitely a fascinating force.
The third song on the setlist for the evening also signaled the first time that the 20-something musician addressed the throng, giving some obligatory thanks to those who made it out.
Then using her soft and undeniably confident voice, “Kaboom”, a powerful, synth heavy number with commanding vocals filled the air.
Enhancing the power of the onstage performance, the set employed a projector backdrop that flickered with psychedelic imagery throughout the set, meshing appropriately with the new music.
The confident vocalist speaks quietly into the microphone “T-R-O-U-B-L-E, trouble”, and gracefully begins the down tempo, big beat and at times morose “Trouble”.
One of the most relevant songs of the evening was “Kiss My Apocalypse”, reminiscent of The Pixies hit “Wave of Mutilation” in both sound and overall feel.
A brief intermission allowed the composed May to partake in the clichéd stage banter that all artists subscribe to; but this gave her the opportunity to ask everyone about the approaching apocalypse before directing her attention towards one heckler; “FUCK YOU, but in a good way.”
The newly released single “Karmageddon” proved itself as the most recognized tune of the evening. Its organic feel and controlling vocals make it the perfect demonstration of things to come from the musical entrepreneur’s upcoming album.
May’s new sound can be described in a number of ways, the most apt ones being cool and brave.
Wrapping up the short set with a track about the appearances of Melbournian men, the ensemble wound the night down with a free-for-all clusterfuck of original musical fusion.
Abbe May is taking a large gamble with her shift in music. As the latest tour winds up, the immediate future looks promising for the young musician and if this performance is anything to go by, we’re sure in for some surprises.
Ditching the guitar for vocal dominance and relying heavily on steady drumbeats, the imposing new album “Kiss My Apocalypse” is bound to be one of the favorites for many after its release in early 2013.
