Live Review: The Temper Trap, Hatchie

23 November 2017 | 5:00 pm | Melissa Borg

"It often felt like we were watching in someone's living room."

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Hailing from Brisbane, Hatchie took to the Metro stage to showcase her glistening shoegaze.

Her sweet voice draped over a hazy guitar-driven soundscape that was positively dreamy, highlighted in track Try. Sensing our engagement, she encouraged us to sing along to the simple lyrics of new single Sure to close the set.

The familiar notes of Fader emerged over the cheers, and following it up by Love Lost signalled a clear direction for tonight's show.

Despite being their first headline show since early last year, The Temper Trap weren't here to impress us, they were here to test our loyalty. Keeping it casual in both their demeanour and approach to the show, it often felt like we were watching in someone's living room. However, this relaxed vibe didn't carry over to their musicianship, which proved they could easily fill a stadium with their anthemic hits.

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The reaction to Thick As Thieves and So Much Sky passed the test, so the four-piece treated us to a rendition of Fools, a track they hadn't played in years (hinting that we might remember it).

New tracks were tested including 'XOX' (working title), gauging our response via cheers, aiming to get the music execs in the room onboard.

Drum Song was an anticlimactic ending, but honestly it was probably a device to make us scream louder for the encore - and it worked.

Soldier On was breathtaking and enabled Dougy Mandagi's unforgettable falsetto to shine. Then, a reward for our commitment, Sweet Disposition was played; with just as much vigour and enthusiasm as if it wasn't for the millionth time.

A computer glitch prevented them from finishing the show as planned. But we do have to thank that one person who started a boo, as it meant we were treated to an unreleased, slightly unpractised B-side to close the set; only adding to the relaxed feel of tonight's show.