Live Review: Lorde, Safia - Hordern Pavilion

The line outside the Hordern was long and full of young'uns with long wavy perms and dark purple lipstick. Some brought parents as additional accessories, but the buzz was more grown-up than the view suggested.

Supports Safia were a dance/indie trio with a developing style that still needs a little love although flashes of Eskimo Joe's energy and The Presets' experimentation were present. Still needs some honing, but what an opportunity to play to a big crowd.

Our headliner didn't leave us waiting long after their set, genuine enough to repeatedly, sincerely (and daggily) tell the crowd she was blown away by their presence and her swift ascension, but formed enough already to have her own 'Fuck you I wanna wear a baggy power suit and sensible shoes with big purple lipstick' thing happening. Seeing her support such a strong record was really something. Arriving on stage early and keeping to a right 70 odd minutes, Lorde was someone clearly with the energy of a first album and first big tour, but also with the nouse to know her limits. “I've missed you Sydney,” she said. “Last time I played at Goodgod Small Club. That holds maybe a couple of hundred people, and now here I am at the Hordern. I can't tell you what that means to me.” Making her way through most of Pure Heroine, highlights included opener Glory And Gore, the anthemic Team, the undeniable Royals, the slower Swingin' Party and grower Still Sane.

As the intro to Ribs rolled out, she spoke about the experience of coming “across the pond” and the growing realisation that she's an adult now, something that it's easy to pin on an artist still in her teens, but, let's face it, comes as a shock to most of us as we have to keep being reminded. It clearly resonated with the kids down the front, many still yet to really hit that stride but clearly loving her. Screaming as she prowled near them on stage, it was a reaction of affection rather than hysteria. This is an artist who is genuinely different – Tori Amos and Annie Lennox would be proud of her lady-pop stance, but quite a few of the fellas should also take a leaf out of her book in terms of commitment and developing style. Minimal staging and a simple but solid mix of live and preset music, it's still early days despite her epic success so far. A little more variety would go a long way, but damn, when she gets even further down that road it's going to be incredible. For her encore Lorde re-emerged in a fabulous shiny silver cape and flowy frock, a confetti canon rewarding the faithful as A World Alone rang out.  The kids left loving it, as did we (kinda) grown-ups. Can't wait to hear where she goes next – what a pleasure it will be to see her develop.