There has been much hype and chatter recently about the Aussie diva supergroup: Seeker Lover Keeper, and with good reason. The group consisting of Holly Throsby, Sally Seltmann and Sarah Blasko have, in a very short time, won themselves a legion of loyal fans with the amazing response from critics and consumers alike to their self-titled debut album.
The trio graced Adelaide on Wednesday night, playing a rather intimate show at the Governor Hindmarsh as part of their national tour, ahead of their date with Splendour in the Grass.
The renowned Gov had been set up with candles, a burning fireplace and seating in a cinema like fashion, in place of the usual standing area. The capacity crowd filled the venue as soon as doors opened, and as the seats filled up, so the excitement began to take hold.
To open the show, New Zealand songstress, Tiny Ruins, took the stage armed with her acoustic guitar. Her amazing finger plucking complemented her sweet vocals, giving her story telling-styled lyrics a stronger delivery. Despite only playing a half hour set, the crowd was infatuated with the singer, giving her the respect that she so deserved; her beautiful and tranquil performance perfectly setting up the evening’s festivities.
The half hour wait between sets seemed to drag and everyone was eagerly waiting for Seeker Lover Keeper to grace the stage.
The lights dimmed and the ladies walked on stage to very loud and warm applause from the audience. Opening with the hauntingly beautiful song ‘Bring Me Back’, the group instantly had the now silent crowd in awe. The opening number really displayed the amazing talents of all three band members – beautiful vocal melodies complemented only by a beautifully strummed classic guitar.
The group was then joined by a rhythm section: bass player, Shahzard Ismaily, and drummer Jim White (formerly of Dirty Three). Their second song, ‘Light all my Lights’, showed the group’s ability to write a beautifully melodic pop song, inciting the crowd to bop their heads along as they sat in admiration.
The group continued to play tracks from their debut album, often stopping to talk to the crowd, asking how they were doing and even plugging their merchandise. During certain songs, they spoke of how they originated, allowing the audience to better connect with the music. Before playing ‘Theme I’, Blasko declared to the crowd that the song was a theme for the group. They also revealed before playing ‘Rest your head on my shoulder’ that it was the first song the group worked on together: a beautiful, almost gospel style piece with each member singing different verses, and displaying their contrasting vocal ranges – it was most definitely a standout performance of the evening.
The chemistry between the three was not difficult to see either, they often complimented and talked to each other between songs, and told the crowd that ‘Rely on Me’ is a representation of how the group members rely on each other. It is not often one can see such honesty amongst band members, and no doubt it was a great treat for the crowd.
After performing their debut album in its entirety, the group walked off stage, only to return a few minutes later for a much appreciated encore. Blasko told the crowd that each singer would do a rendition of another’s solo work. Thus, Sarah Blasko did a cover of Holly Throsby’s ‘We’re good people, but why don’t we show it?’, Holly Throsby sang Sally Seltmann’s ‘I’m the drunk, you’re the star’ and finally, Sally Seltmann covered Sarah Blasko’s ‘We Won’t Run’. It was both a wonderful idea and a wonderful surprise for the fans.
To finish the show, the group covered the Stevie Nicks’ classic ‘Wild Heart’, explaining that they all felt an emotional connection to the song; again this added another level of intimacy and showcased the personalities of the three women.
Seeker Lover Keeper most definitely live up to their hype and thoroughly exceed expectations. They create an amazing atmosphere with the crowd and should not be missed by any fan of live music. For those lucky enough to be attending Splendour in the Grass this weekend, it would be in your interest to see this lovely trio, as they will not disappoint.
– Matthew Mercieca
