Ever wanted to hear INXS classics like ‘New Sensation’ and ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ given a slacker pop makeover? Well today’s your lucky day.
Footage has surfaced of Glastonbury-conquering Aussie music ambassador Courtney Barnett performing INXS’s blockbuster 1987 album Kick in full.
With naught but her voice and guitar, Barnett tackles each of the 12 tracks on the Michel Hutchence-fronted Aussie exports’ 7x Platinum selling album, including a laconic rendition of ‘Need You Tonight’ with the use of a loop pedal (“see you don’t even need a band with new technology, just loop everything,” she jokes onstage) and recreating the Dylan-referencing ‘Mediate’ music video, with the help of a willing audience member.
Though the footage surfaces in the wake of renewed interest in INXS and the rise of Barnett’s own international profile, the laidback 50-ish minute performance was actually filmed two years ago.
On 22nd December, 2012 at St. Kilda’s Pure Pop Records, to be precise, as part of their Summer Of Classic Albums series in which nearly 70 Aussie artists recreated iconic LPs in front of intimate audiences, all filmed for YouTube. You can also check out full-length video of Julia Stone tackling David Bowie’s Let’s Dance and Jeff Lang’s take on Tom Waits’ Bone Machine.
Barnett and her band recently turned in a winning performance at Glastonbury (you can watch their full hour-long set here), the latest in a string of international festival appearances this year, including Field Day, The Great Escape, Primavera, Firefly.
The 26-year-old Melbournite is headed back to the US for a string of dates, including Chicago’s Lollapalooza, plus Canada’s Osheaga and NXNE industry conference, all while her recently completed full-length debut album (recorded with thanks to a $15,000 Arts Council funding grant) waiting in the wings to capitalise on her 2013 ‘Double EP’ A Sea of Split Peas. We can’t wait.
