There’s no doubt that Australia loves Birdy. Her debut, self-titled album peaked at number one when it was released in 2011 and also spawned two top 10 singles; most notably, her cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love”.
It was this success, something that hasn’t been replicated in her native England (at least to this extent) that led to her Australian tour.
The UK singer and pianist toured with two support acts, both 20-year-old male singer/songwriters who were sure to make the teen girls in the audience happy.
The first was Melbourne’s own Lakyn, who found fame on Channel Nine’s The Voice, followed by Oxfordshire boy, Lewis Watson.
Lakyn cast a dramatic figure – standing alone, centre stage, under a spotlight, whilst the rest of The Palais stage was in darkness. As he began to strum his acoustic guitar, girly squeals and shouts of “I love you” echoed from the young audience.
Displaying an amazing vocal range, including an impressive falsetto, Lakyn’s voice resonated throughout the venue and fans watched in awe.
His low-key performance showcased beautiful, original tunes from his debut EP, as well as a few covers, all of which were well received. His performance of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” was a heartfelt, rock and roll adaptation, written to transform the pop song into “a version he liked.”
An emotional and stripped back version of MGMT’s “Kids”, which sampled lyrics from Bob Marley’s “Is This Love”, showcased impressive finger picking on his guitar.
Lakyn left the stage and, whilst fans were still cheering, was swiftly replaced with Watson.
“I’m going to sing some songs for you” the next support act announced, as he plugged in his guitar and lay down his set list. Also met with shouts of adoration from the crowd, the young solo performer giggled nervously and tried to concentrate on his singing.
Opening with “Once Before”, Watson’s vocal strength was obvious. At one stage he stepped back from the microphone and filled the venue with his heartfelt tunes, no amplification needed.
He politely encouraged the audience to sing along to his cover of Angus and Julia Stone’s “Jet Plane”, to which they happily obliged. All other songs were Watson’s own and featured a stunning display of tender ballads that resonated with the young audience.
The two boys left many hearts aflutter and this excitement heightened as Birdy walked quietly into view. Taking a seat at the grand piano tucked away to the left of the stage, she remained there for duration of show.
There is no denying that the teenager has an amazing voice. The long-haired, demure songstress is not just another airy-fairy female singer – her singing comes from the gut and her beautiful notes project strongly throughout the cavernous venue.
It wasn’t until a few songs in that the 16-year-old acknowledged the crowd, nodding in their direction and then introducing the four other musicians on stage.
The band was spread evenly in a line across the stage, with no member in particular taking priority. Perhaps this was to demonstrate that each song was an even collaboration between musicians, perhaps to take the focus off Birdy. Either way, it was unusual to see the night’s leading lady take such a back seat.
Birdy’s piano arrangements are simple and the focus is clearly on her vocals and the melody. At times the band really shines; the addition of a cellist to the standard keys, guitar and drums is a notable asset. However, the band’s enthusiasm, especially the cellist who, at times, plays his instrument like a crazed rock star, is incongruous with the aloof nature of the singer they were accompanying.
A stand out of the night was her performance of “Without A Word” – the only song on Birdy’s self titled album that she penned herself. The heartbreak expressed in this breakup ballad is palpable and there’s a sense of desperation in her lyrics.
It’s a wonder why she didn’t wait until she had more of her own songs before releasing an album or touring, as this song displayed great promise from such a young artist.
Instead, the audience was fed cover after cover (which may be what they came for), but there was little to no interaction from the girl they so desperately wanted to get to know. Fans still showed adoration, but their enthusiasm had waned from the heights it reached during the support acts.
The loudest cheers came with Birdy’s encore, “Skinny Love”. Performed solo, the crowd sat in silence as their idol belted out a heartfelt rendition of the song that shot her to fame.
The band returned for Birdy’s cover of James Taylor’s “Fire And Rain”, after which the five musicians all bowed together and swiftly exited.
With a voice and a natural talent such as Birdy’s, the young Brit is destined for great things. It was just a pity that, given she gives nothing of herself away through song, that at the end of her 90 minutes on stage, the audience still seemed to know nothing about girl they had come to see.
