Reviewed on Friday December 5

The female-led night of music at Newtown’s just-big-enough venue proved just as stellar as its lineup promised. Having lent her vocal chords to Aussie hip hop names like Hermitude, Horrorshow and Urthboy for the past decade, it was now Jane Tyrrell’s turn to stand in the solo spotlight for the launch of her debut album, Echoes In The Aviary.

Sydney musician Maples AKA Gabby Huber of Dead Letter Chorus fame (“Let us run wild!”) was first to stand onstage, and with keyboards and pedals for company, she succeeded in piquing and then holding the room’s attention. Appreciative of the quiet audience, the talented muso returned the favour with an electric rainforest of sounds, broken only to allow her often saccharine, often low, but always controlled voice to break through.

Dispelling the electronic haze with some upbeat folky pop was Elana Stone and her two bandmates. Small but sprightly, Stone spread her invisible dancing juice and generally great vibes with her sharp banter and beautifully performed songs, complete with the unexpected appearance of an accordion. Life lesson #750: you can’t go past Stone for an electrifying, slowed down and nearly unrecognisable cover of Mariah Carey’s ‘Emotions’.

Hovering on the side of the room for most of the support sets, Jane Tyrrell emerged smiling and fierce in a brilliant sleeveless red coat. Tyrrell is certainly no stranger to the local music industry and both Maples and Stone were particularly generous in their thanks of the leading lady. “She’s one of those gems that carries the flame,” Maples had said early on in the night.

Tyrrell’s dark and deeply refined vocals showcased the best of her album as well as a beautiful Paul Kelly cover (‘Stolen Apples Taste The Sweetest’). It was one moving track after the next, with no tendency to mess around. That’s not to say Tyrrell didn’t have a bit of fun. Waltzing into the audience for a few lines of ‘Shapeshifters’, divulging her favourite Australian band (nice one, PVT) and making sure everyone was on the same page about ’80s dancing, Tyrrell charmed any audience member who wasn’t already a devotee.

Although Echoes In The Aviary is a stunning record, it was made inescapably awe-inspiring live. The flame was well and truly alight from start to finish with Tyrrell’s voice as its life-giving centre.

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