Live Review: Adalita, Teeth & Tongue

Thornbury Theatre’s ballroom fills with the overpowering smell of curry wafting over from the foyer buffet of assorted fried foods as the audience take their seats in a circular formation around the large dancefloor. Electric blue stage lighting illuminates this unique, grand venue, highlighting the classic architecture and décor around the majestic room.

Teeth & Tongue emerge with lead singer Jess Cornelius breaking the silence, “It’s a bit debutante in here, so we’re gonna turn it into a dance party!” The band play their intriguing, soulful, alternative-pop. Cornelius’ hauntingly beautiful performance is accentuated by perfect harmonies supplied by supporting soprano vocalist Jade McInally. They don’t deliver the promised dance party until their second last track, a disco-funk song and clear crowd favourite.

By the time Adalita reaches the stage, the audience cover the entire dancefloor space, packing in all the way up to the front speakers, to catch a glimpse of their local music hero. She’s the definitive rock chick in a black and white outfit with heavy, dark eye makeup that contrasts against her pale skin. The show is broken into three parts with each presenting a distinctive style. The first part begins with a full band and includes songs from her second studio album All Day Venus, showcasing a loud, ‘90s grunge sound packed with reverb-soaked rock anthems.

The band exits for the second part, leaving Adalita on stage to give a slower-paced solo performance. With a beautiful display of well crafted light and shade, she performs tracks from her debut self-titled album, including personal favourite Hot Air, an emotionally charged song that she tells us she holds very close to her heart. The long, ethereal guitar riffs evoke a beautiful stillness in the air and draw huge applause.

The third session also includes a couple of new songs. Adalita explains she has been attempting to write for over a year now and promises there’s a lot of new material coming. One newie is a keyboard-driven number that creates a dark ambience and is rounded out with a sensational, lengthy guitar solo. The band is welcomed back for the final part of the show, which comprises two more new songs Dazzling and Equations, followed by two more All Day Venus hits including an encore of the uplifting, euphoric pop-rock anthem Blue Sky.