Reviewed on Saturday April 1 (photo by Ashley Mar)
Tash Sultana’s meteoric rise over the last year was best represented by the packed-out Metro Theatre of fans greeting her as she came onstage. As she said, with an air of self-deprecation, she easily could have been supporting Ocean Alley, rather than the other way around. But it was the other way around, and Sultana proved exactly why.
That’s not a stab at Ocean Alley, either. They had a very solid set and ‘Holiday’ went off like a treat. Their brand of psychedelic reggae only continues to get more interesting as they continue to develop.
But it was Sultana’s night in the end. She mentioned that almost exactly one year ago she’d played a gig in Sydney at Brighton Up Bar, a significantly smaller (though also excellent) venue. If the crowd full of people whispering “She’s such a babe!” is anything to go by, it’s clear she’s managed to find a solid fan base.
Watching the sheer skill of this multi-instrumentalist live was an engrossing experience. Whether creating mesmerising loops, plucking insanely at an acoustic guitar or playing the trumpet, she was always incredible to watch. Her energy was also enough to make an onlooker feel exhausted. It was as if there was no barrier between the music and her – they were feeding into each other over every rise and depression.
Sultana also didn’t shy away from her political views, making a point of saying “fuck you” to Pauline Hanson (apparently there has been some kind of beef between them for a while). The crowd at the Metro mostly seemed to agree. Maybe this was that echo chamber everyone keeps talking about.
‘Blackbird’ was a highlight, and saw Sultana take to an acoustic guitar to show off her considerable skill. Even though she joked about being sick of it, ‘Jungle’ was another feature of the set. Live, like many of her songs, it takes on new and unexpected dimensions. That could be said for the entire evening – and it is no wonder this is an artist who has built her reputation on her live shows and dizzying musical talent.
