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Live Review: Alex Lahey

Shannon Andreucci

"You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me earnt Lahey her first encore, ever."

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We definitely do like people like Alex Lahey. The Melbourne muso sings about the highs and lows of adulthood and relates to 20-something audiences with her self-deprecating humour. Sydney was the first stop on Lahey’s national tour named after her ode to cinema, Wes Anderson, and the crowd were well-amped to welcome her and the all-boy band home after touring at SXSW and in the UK with Tegan & Sara.

Given the young singer/songwriter is putting the finishing touches on her highly-anticipated debut album, it was only fair we got to hear some of the brand new material. It’s promising and it’s full of the catchy guitar-pop and inventive wordplay fans have come to know and love. And true to her amusing stage banter, all songs were prefaced by anecdotes of how they came to be. Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder documents being abruptly dumped in Western Australia (but don’t worry, she’s totally, kind of, absolutely fine with it), and I Want You is a softer love song about an inexistent relationship. 

It seems Alex Lahey’s family members inspired much of the new album. I Haven’t Been Taking Care Of Myself is dedicated to supportive mother Vicky, and the not-so-little brother gets mad props on I Love You Like A Brother.

Indie rock favourites from last year’s B-Grade University EP were also played. Ivy League, which is dedicated to all undergrad students, roused many cheers in the crowd and Let’s Go Out had bodies swaying side-to-side. 

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Everything came full circle for Lahey tonight; as she recounts it was only 18 months ago that she played in this very venue, in support of Gordi, and now here she is again, headlining her own sold-out show. Supported by freewheeling Sydney chanteuse ILUKA and folk-punk act The Football Club (not to be mistaken on Spotify as a FIFA playlist as previously done by Lahey), she seemed very comfortable on stage and well beyond her years. 

Hook-laden hit and set-closer You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me earnt Lahey her first encore, ever. It was a pleasure to pop that cherry, so to speak.