Angus & Julia Stone @ Sydney Opera House

There is a sincerity to Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s performance which is refreshing but also works to their detriment. After frontman Tim Bettinson introduced ‘Open Your Eyes’ as “one of the most honest songs I’ve written”, we quickly found ourselves swamped in angsty, clichéd lyrics. It’s like suffering through someone reading you their adolescent diary – “I’m not what you see, I want you to be proud, I’m wearing a mask,” et cetera. Otherwise, lyrics were generally unclear and often blended entirely with background synth sounds. Each song sounds like a variation of Bon Iver’s ‘Holocene’ crossed with an inspirational Discovery Channel video, but having said that, VSC are actually a strong band with an interesting sound.

With a setlist covering a wide sweep of their career, the majority of Angus & Julia Stone’s show saw Julia standing in the spotlight, happily charming the audience, while Angus was often steeped in shadow; even in duets it was difficult to see his face. Early on we were treated to new song ‘Crash And Burn’ played in near-darkness with bright backlights. It made for some great silhouettes – Angus shredding away, Julia rocking out on tambourine – but with the addition of artillery-like strobe blasts, you get the sense Angus is almost deliberately ostracising his audience. I suspect this isn’t arrogance, however. The siblings are both household names these days, and the cult of personality overtaking the music itself has become a legitimate fear. By sticking to the shadows, you can’t help but be drawn into what he’s actually saying.

Julia, though, is another story. While Angus may be more interested in songcraft these days, Julia is becoming the kind of performer we’re still going to be talking about in 50 years’ time. ‘Hold On’ showcases just how spectacular her voice can be, and she swings from soaring accusation to battered whisper in a heartbeat. The focus of the night was clearly Julia, and she knocked it out of the park. Her version of ‘You’re The One That I Want’– yep, you read right – might just have been the highlight of the evening, and is certainly the most unique and commanding cover I’ve heard in ages. In the end, you’re left with the hope that this isn’t the last time the siblings will reunite, and if you still have the chance, catch them while you can.