Live Review: The Paper Kites, I Know Leopard, Luke Thompson

Theatrics saturated the Astor Theatre stage during The Paper Kites' Perth gig; invoking a sense of mystique and anticipation. The sheer quantity of musical equipment strewn across the stage teased the audience that they were certainly in for a show. Propped up by supports Luke Thompson and dream-pop aficionados I Know Leopard, it was a night beholden of excitement. Intricately planned and unconventional, all the sets added to the greater whole of an enjoyable-yet-atypical gig. 

Armed with only a hollow-bodied electric guitar and his crooning vocals, Luke Thompson was a welcome entree for the night, with each track slow and undulating, never too loud or boisterous. Keeping the audience at ease with his cool and calm demeanour, Thompson may as well have been playing in his lounge room to an audience of two or even at a pub's open mic night. The grand space of Astor Theatre did not faze him, giving his performance a humbling aura.

I Know Leopard burst onto the stage in a surge of indie-pop brightness. The electrifying combination of lead vocalist Luke O'Loughlin's singing and the swaying melodies coming from Jenny McCullagh's smooth violin skills maintained an ongoing momentum, the final result giving rise to an audible firework; spectacular and mesmerising. Running through songs Another Life and finishing their set with Perfect Picture, the band successfully transported the audience from the aged venue into a lucid, indie-pop dream bubble.

The Paper Kites ran a tightly wound set, pushing something story-driven. It left little time for the band to engage with the audience between songs; however, it definitely gave off the impression the band had rehearsed meticulously for the show. With four large window panes hung up on the wall behind the band, each separate window displayed a small film with each character going through a different story. Witnessing break-ups and eventually make-ups, the background props really added emotional weight to The Paper Kites' performance. Starting with their distinctive folky vibes, the band later broke new ground by moving into a heartbroken, funky angst peppered with bluesy guitar solos and hip off-beats.