Hailing all the way from Brisbane, indie-pop group Belltalk warmed the crowd.
Impressive as the instrumentation of lead singer Caitlin Von Berky was,
including keyboard and the occasional acoustic guitar ballad, it’s Von Berky’s incredible vocal range that really made the foursome shine.
Somber backing vocals by Kiel Hames and Elizabeth Hurman on bass and lead guitar respectively added to the darkened pop tunes.
Opener ‘Bright Lights’ was a definite standout, showcasing the tight instrumentation of the group, and the electronic elements found throughout the chorus of ‘Bride’ made it another memorable tune.
Musically proficient and passionate, Belltalk are a diamond in the rough of the indie pop scene.
Acting as a breather was Lucian Blomkamp, playing a subtle electronic set that hinted at the likes of Clams Casino and Flume as influence.
Another multi-instrumentalist, Blomkamp raised a few eyebrows at the reveal of his violin, showcasing his appreciation of the classic instrument as he played over his own voice sampling.
Despite spanning a long runtime without sounding homogenous or dull, Blomkamp disappointingly failed to draw a large crowd, as his entrancing set likely came off as background noise to a few.
Despite that, he is a very knowledgeable and talented youth, whose mesmerising brand of ambient electronica would benefit hugely in the right environment.
Rounding out the night was Mulholland himself, backed by his talented drummer the duo performed a versatile range of electronic indie pop, celebrating the release of Mulholland’s album Feed The Beast.
Frantically switching between guitars and keys, Mulholland was a talented spectacle, as his wide vocal range dazzled an already dancing crowd.
Engaging in some friendly banter with the crowd between songs, the singer gave off an air of importance without coming off as overly sanctimonious. “Now is your chance to come up to the front” he reaffirmed for a curious audience member.
‘Blueprint’ was what mainly got a crowd moving, the memorable chorus nodding to potential commercial success, and despite the release of Feed The Beast, Mulholland and co. closed with an older number in ‘Body Fight Time’, the drawn out conclusion of which met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the crowd.
The lighting emphasized Mulholland’s sound without ever distracting from the two boys on stage (perhaps already in motion by his flamboyant choice of shirt), and the crystal sound emanating from the two musicians made it an enjoyable affair for all involved.
