Reviewed on Saturday February 4 (photo byJess Hayhow)
The glorious backdrop of the city at sunset framed the surprisingly intimate venue that was Taronga Zoo’s concert lawn as Killing Heidi returned to Sydney. You couldn’t have asked for a better setting for an evening of music and reminiscing with friends – the wine and cheese crowd ambled on down, clutching picnic blankets and camping chairs; from the 20-something couples to families with children in tow, all were here with a mutual purpose.
The noughties pop-rock sensations were accompanied by Perth’s Abbe May, who popped the cork on the evening with a sense of hesitation. Her conversation with the audience was frequently awkward and her control of her backing tracks was fumbled, but May nevertheless has a hypnotic voice – most zoned out for her between-song commentary, but there were audible remarks on the power of her singing. A little refinement and rehearsal in live performance will go a long way for May, but there are always her records to enjoy in the interim.
In uniform black, Killing Heidi were… well, they were Killing Heidi. All adrenaline, enthusiasm and cheekiness, the Hooper siblings tore onto stage, grins as wide as you can imagine, directing their performance initially to a trickle of fans gathered at the front, while the premium cheese-eaters lingered back, comfortable on their camping chairs.
The Melbourne comeback kids were magnificent throughout. More and more of the audience sidled up to the stage as the band bounced through song after song, and frontwoman Ella Hooper was a firecracker of fun, her voice unwavering as she belted into the setting sun. Back to back ballads in the middle of the set had the fans seeming a little drowsy, but they were soon woken up by Hooper’s entertaining antics and a few more bluesy numbers.
‘Mascara’ stood out as a poignant moment; it was written when the Hoopers were in their early teens, and though Ella joked about their lyrics being the most typical teenage lyrics ever, many remembered and many related.
And that’s the beauty of Killing Heidi. They’re a stalwart in Aussie pop, who aren’t ashamed to enjoy what they do with the retained excitement of their younger days – and nor are their fans. Killing Heidi may have grown up, but their youthful music is immortal.
