Live Review: Jenny Lewis, Fraser A Gorman

23 July 2015 | 2:06 pm | Xavier Rubetzki Noonan

"The music she and her five-piece band create is pure California."

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Early on, Fraser A Gorman jokes about having to call security to calm down his rowdy audience, who are politely hearing out the Melbourne artist's first few tunes. Unfortunately, while his songs are lusciously fleshed-out on record, the stripped-back trio on stage are unable to rouse much more than contented smiles from the audience. Gorman's gentle grooving comes across a little flat and his tongue-in-cheek sarcasm doesn't translate. Things pick up a bit towards the end, with sweet harmonica and lively backing vocals lifting My Old Man and the upbeat, super-catchy Shiny Gun, but after 40 minutes, the crowd is ready to move on.

Jenny Lewis is a veteran performer and a natural on stage, mixing a dash of Hollywood glamour with free-wheeling Americana. The music she and her five-piece band create is pure California: the shimmering Fleetwood Mac guitars in She's Not Me, the bold strut of Moneymaker. Lewis' voice is crystal-clear and note-perfect, ringing out with honesty whether belting out The Next Messiah or crowding around an old-timey radio mic with backup singers for the contemplative With Arms Outstretched.

Halfway through the set, a fan tosses a paper aeroplane on stage. When unfolded it's revealed to be a love letter, several pages long. Without batting an eye, Lewis dedicates a song to him. A bunch of flowers in hand, she sits on the stage's lip and shoots him a knowing look as the opening bars of Love U Forever begin to play.

Her set is peppered with stunningly memorable moments like this (towards the end of the night, dozens of gigantic multi-coloured balloons are fired out into the crowd), as well as songs from every stage of Lewis' illustrious songwriting career, but a special adoration is reserved for songs by Rilo Kiley, her long-time on-again-off-again band. The crowd roars with delight when Lewis surprises the crowd with the upbeat Portions For Foxes, and it's hard to fight back tears when the brutally emotional A Better Son/Daughter builds gradually from washed-out guitar to resplendent, fist-pumping final chorus.

A generous encore caps off the night, featuring a new song with the ingenious refrain "it's a girl-on-girl, dog-eat-dog world," as well as the emotional, cosmic The Voyager and, finally, the heart-wrenching campfire singalong of Acid Tongue. It's a fitting end to an emotional night, providing much-needed closure to a room full of changed people.