Live Review: Edie Green, Runner, Childsaint, Golden Slums

Golden Slums, with monstrous expectations stacked against them, launched into their set with grace and aplomb. The group’s bright jaunty sound immediately set the tone for the rest of the night. Lead singer Rory O’Keeffe’s ultra-casual attitude and distinctive vocals lured in a modest, beer-swigging audience. His harmonica solos added a country twang to the group’s pleasurable summery aura. The testosterone-driven ensemble bolstered its set with a sterling rendition of Mind At Ease.

Childsaint, in a similar fashion, roared through their opening number while keeping the excitable crowd engaged. The band – comprising four charming, baby-faced ladies – flipped effortlessly between polite personalities and powerful performers. The group’s scintillating renditions of Dessert and Suicide Soda showcased the ensemble’s soothing harmonies and likeable stage presence with lead vocalist Chloe McGrath’s flawless, angelic vocals highlighting the group’s potential. Sparkling renditions of Bury Me and Cold Summer left the crowd wanting more.

The final warm-up act, Runner, attracted more people towards the beer-stained dancefloor. Each band member, sporting untamed beards and frizzy hairdos, brought an unrefined glow to the event. Their extensive instrumental jams and group dynamic solicited whoops and cheers from the increasingly inebriated crowd, while the group’s charisma and boisterous sense of humour made for a more memorable set than expected. Spirited renditions of Bad Websites, Spooking and Seven highlighted its raw, rugged rhythms and thumping percussive beats.

The room’s temperature hurriedly rose as everyone waited with baited breath for the headliners to begin their set. The packed-out venue went ballistic as Edie Green hit the stage and launched into a spirited and lively opening number. Their tempo-switching introduction created a hearty, sweat-inducing atmosphere: Electrifying instrumentals and overwhelming enthusiasm illuminated the group’s dynamic stage presence. Between songs, they saluted the eager crowd with an enjoyable sense of humour and words of praise. Keeping to a consistent momentum, the group switched efficiently between pacy, up-beat numbers and moody, relentless renditions. The ensemble’s magnetic melodies and hyperkinetic rhythms drew more people onto the overcrowded dancefloor; catchy riffs and strums fused the rock-pop vibe with a jazzy twang.

Though bolstered by kaleidoscopic new tracks, a steely, saucy cover of Ride My Pony solidified the set’s first half. Lead singer Sophie Weigele’s commanding vocals sent the crowd into overdrive, hitting the high notes with unrelenting power and precision. Switching between the keyboard and ukulele, there was seemingly nothing she couldn’t do. The group, throughout each extensive four/five-minute song, displayed its immense range and array of talents with renditions of hit songs Thieves and Southern Palms, which were elevated by Conor McErlean’s scintillating electric guitar solos. The group’s pulpy rendition of Shaky Fingers elicited swaying from the overwhelming crowd, the band’s blood-sweat-and-tears style capped off an already stellar night of rock-pop anthems and promising local acts.