Live Review: Middle Kids, CLEWS

There's a reason that you may have been seeing the CLEWS name around the place lately.

Hailing from Mollymook, sisters Grace and Lily Richardson have that connection that only sisters can have. They harmonise perfectly together, they strum synchronously, grin at each other during songs and blast out some alt-rock that is reminiscent of the '90s sounds of The Breeders.

Their awkward between-song banter is endearing as they introduce themselves to a filling Oxford Art Factory and then jump into never-before heard songs like Crushed along with their latest single, Museum. There's some great potential from this group and they are definitely worth keeping an eye on.

It's always a bit strange going to a gig on a Sunday night, but when it's from Sydney darlings Middle Kids, you make the effort. Lead singer, Hannah Joy, points out, "We just wanted to do a sneaky Sunday sesh with some family and friends!"

After performing an "old" one; Your Love, she continues, "You're going to hear about 50/50 of stuff you don't know". This is because we are standing at the cusp of their debut album, called Lost Friends and due in a couple of months. It's an exciting time to be hearing and seeing them in such an intimate venue. There is a distinct feeling that this will be a huge year for the quartet as they gear up to tour the album in the US over May and June.

New track, Maryland, is a slow-burner. "Sometimes I want to go back", admits Joy as she explains she used to live in the US state of the same name. Another new track follows and the band (with added touring guitarist) seriously rock out.

"You're one of the quietest crowds we've ever had," states bass player Tim Fitz. "Why isn't everyone ordering drinks in between songs?" We are engaged and engrossed by the performance. Tight, mature indie rock songs with just the right amount of story, rocking-out and intimacy. Joy's solo performance of Doing It Right is well-timed and poignant and the slowed-down cover of blink-182's All The Small Things is cheeky fun. They finish the main set with new song, Please, before returning for Never Start. "Let's just loop it and play forever!" announces Joy. We'd be happy with that, because we want them to never stop.