St Stephen’s Uniting Church is one of the more interesting live venues in Sydney. Volunteers staffed the venue, and signs advertising upcoming Eucharists and church services – a rather charming touch – reaffirmed the fact that it was a church first and foremost. The experience would have undoubtedly been cheapened by a bar serving vodka Red Bulls in the back – church wine, though, was up for discussion.
The building was lit in a dramatically appealing fashion. Delicate lights created shadows and tinted the pronounced interior architecture, creating the perfect atmosphere for both performers.
The theme of religion extended beyond the venue choice. Supporting artist Appleonia delved into the topic with curiosity and wonder.
Appleonia, the solo project of Jessica Chapnik Kahn, discussed her fascination with the concept of backmasking – a recording technique where a sound or message can be heard when playing the track backwards. She revealed that satanic messages were supposedly planted in famous songs using the backmasking feature, before performing a backmasked song of her own. While there were no satanic messages, the technique proved to be a very interesting execution and a great vehicle to simply showcase the power of her voice.
In a less tongue-in-cheek manner, Kahn discussed her fascination with the Gnostic bible and how it was a source of inspiration in her own life. She then performed a few songs that directly drew from the text, showcasing her desire to reinvent tradition.
Appleonia thrived in the space with a powerful voice and charisma to carry the sparse interpretations of tracks, as well as a knack for storytelling, which kept people entertained between tunes. The artist’s new album OH is available for free online, where every download equals ten meals for the homeless donated by Vittoria Coffee.
Sarah Blasko howled her way through a moody and emotionally intense set fitting for the god-fearing souls at St Stephen’s Uniting Church. The Heavenly Sounds tour showcased her shift away from the pop space, and instead saw her performing the darker themed songs from her latest album I Awake, including ‘God-Fearing’, ‘I Awake’, and ‘Fool’.
The departure of the sound from Blasko’s As Day Follows Night album meant the discarding of signature songs such as ‘We Won’t Run’. Without any percussion in her entire set, a guitar and piano brought her songs to life, even if her supporting cast had to jump between roles to keep up. On the whole, the singer-songwriter was able to prove why she continues to draw crowds.
It isn’t hard to see why ‘Sarah Blasko’ is one of the most enduring names in the Australian music scene. After seeing her live, it is clear that the Sydneysider is the consummate professional. She looks incredibly comfortable on stage, easily bantering with the crowd, telling stories, and rescuing jokes that weren’t going well. Above all, she communicates a genuine love for her audience.
Blasko may not opt for Beyonce-style dance moves, but her voice is incredibly dynamic, both as powerful and as delicate as it needs to be, and is capable of filling a room in a dramatic fashion.
