Live Review: Middle Kids, Ruby Fields

The venue was packed to the brim on the first show of Middle Kids' national tour at Rosemount Hotel, with many punters struggling to move between the bar and stage to grab drinks. But this didn't put a damper on the stellar performances of Ruby Fields and Middle Kids.

Ruby Fields threw herself straight into an unashamed '90s-rock jam. With support band in tow, the grungy guitar overdrive and emotive wails from Fields gave way to a pleasant alt-rock set. Playing well-known tracks P Plates and I Want, Fields boasted kickass stage presence. The crowd was mesmerised, hypnotically swaying along to the music. Fields left a lasting impression.

After a brief wait before Middle Kids and more shuffling around to avoid a tsunami of beer falling on top of our heads, the crowd was ecstatic to finally see the band emerge on stage. Led by lead singer Hannah Joy, the band opened their set by going straight into Bought It. Filling the space with their signature brand of alternative rock, Middle Kids came out loud and proud. Thanks to the banter and camaraderie that was always apparent between the band members - whether joking about bassist Tim Fitz's newly shaved head or recounting a radio interview during which one of their songs was revealed to have a more darker, morbid meaning - the vibe felt like a casual jam session.

Providing a sad, folk rendition of Blink 182's All The Small Things and seeing the crowd sing along made this crowded setting feel a little bit more intimate. Swapping their cheeky pop punk with sullen, rustic, poignant folk, the band successfully reinterpreted this classic into something truly their own. Finishing off their set with Edge Of Town and then an encore featuring Joy playing Lost Friends solo, the crowd was left shaken by the band's undeniable ability to amaze and overdrive from the shake us up emotionally.