Performing a celebratory east-coast tour to mark the release of her debut album, Harvest Of Gold, Gossling delighted fans with her gorgeous voice and charming demeanor.
Opening for the demure songstress was Melbourne trio (who performed as a five-piece) Whitaker. Treating the crowd to a spectacular set of folk-inspired ballads and soulful storytelling, the band is a testament as to why it’s always worth arriving early to hear the support act!
Singer and guitarist Ryan Meeking is a natural frontman. His banter with the crowd was refreshing and genuine, and his broody, soulful voice will mesmerise any audience.
With spine-tingling harmonies, intricate guitar picking, and subtle yet effective percussion, Whitaker’s carefully crafted tunes were breathtaking.
The next band was the indie pop/rock five-piece, Little Scout. The Brisbane locals got the crowd moving with their distorted electric guitars, frantic drumming, and the somewhat incongruous yet strikingly delicate female vocals.
Leaving the rowdy crowd on a high, the packed venue didn’t have to wait too long before the night’s headliner emerged from behind the red curtain.
Riding a wave of recent success, including label and booking agent deals, Melbourne girl Gossling was in her element performing to a hometown crowd.
Opening with the energetic ‘Big Love’, the young singer/songwriter gushed about how it has always been a dream to play a headline show at The Corner, thanking the crowd for “coming out and making my dreams come true”.
Wearing a pretty red dress that matched her girly voice and feminine charm, Gossling endeared her fans with catchy pop tunes and her gracious and friendly banter.
The title track of her album Harvest Of Gold was a highlight with its catchy hooks and steady percussion.
Gossling, aka Helen Croome, switched from keys to acoustic guitar for ‘Challenge’, a song about her introduction to social media “and the realisation that anyone can say anything they like about you in a public forum”.
Love and relationships was the theme for the next few songs, as they are with her album, moving from ‘Songs Of Summer’, a duet about “being in a relationship for long time, but the spark isn’t there anymore”, to the beautiful, soulful, and heartbreaking ballad, ‘Love Fall Foul’.
The catchy, syncopated beat and fun singalong chorus of ‘Wild Love’ was a crowd favourite, showcasing Gossling’s slightly peculiar and instantly recognisable child-like intonation.
Her distinctive voice is just as good live as it is on her recordings, lending itself perfectly to a beautiful, dreamy interpretation of Everclear’s post-grunge classic ‘Santa Monica’. A great choice, the cover was unique and quirky, giving a completely original sound to the 90s anthem.
“We’re going to play one more little ballad for you,” announces Gossling, “then we’re going to smash you guys in the face…with music.” It’s easy to chuckle at comments like these, seemingly out of place from the softly-spoken singer.
It wasn’t quite as aggressive as promised, but Gossling continued to captivate fans with the broken hearted ‘A Lover’s Spat’ and the dark synth-pop tones of ‘Never Expire’.
The transition from acoustic to electronic for her debut album translated perfectly in the live setting; the use of keys, electric guitar, and drum machines executed her new sound in true style.
Profound storytelling and well-crafted lyrics are always at the heart of Gossling’s songwriting, and the student of music composition seemed very excited to share her creations with an adoring crowd.
Returning for a short encore with ‘I Was Young’ from her Until Then EP, Gossling not only charmed the audience from the stage, but she also stayed into the night to meet and greet fans after her set – and she was lovely to chat to as she was to listen to.
Gossling Setlist
Big Love
Harvest Of Gold
Rose
Challenge
Songs Of Summer
Love Fall Foul
Wild Love
Santa Monica
A Lover’s Spat
Accolade
Heart Killer
Never Expire
I Was Young
