Live Review: Alex Lahey, The Outdoor Type, Frances Fox

There’s no better way to welcome the weekend than with a free gig and plenty of spiced rum samples.

Frances Fox kick off the bill as lead singer Greer Clemens shares her light-hearted indie-pop tunes to invoke a nostalgic daydream. Clemens puts her cherished Taylor Swift pick to her guitar strings and lets her sweet melodic vocals flow out to quickly warm up the audience who pack in from the outside cold. 

The Outdoor Type bring their bright and happy indie-rock inside to charm the pants off us as they lift our spirits up with their infectious upbeat tunes. They share deep and meaningful lyrics on their current single On My Mind as they reflect on the bittersweet feelings in life by sharing raw and honest thoughts. They bravely introduce a harmonica and jangly guitars during Are You Happy, which adds a country folk layer to the enthralling set. 

Tonight is certainly all about Alex Lahey as she officially launches her new single Let’s Go Out. And there’s no surprise it was the most played track on triple j in recent weeks. The catchy tune is all about going out and having a good time, a rite of passage that many are embracing tonight. 

Lahey shares an accurate description of her life 18 months ago, through a song reflecting on her higher education. She dedicates it to all the undergrad arts students who just like her may have been left feeling it was useless and tough to find a job. Since then it’s been complete whirlwind for Lahey as she focused on her music and continuing to capture attention in the industry. 

It’s a real treat to see her rocking out.

We’re lucky enough to hear some new songs played live for the first time tonight before her debut EP is released. It’s a real treat to see her rocking out with impressive guitar moves as she imparts advice from her parents about taking risks. Lahey is down-to-earth and not afraid to speak her mind. Her honest and refreshing lyrics about self-reflection and relationships that no longer exist are all things we can all relate to and connect with. You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me is the perfect anthem to celebrate her artistry and putting her in clear sight as one to watch in 2016.

Despite feeling like a broken record, she keeps thanking us all night as she describes her surprised emotion as a "sensory overload”. The last month left her particularly speechless, having being added to the Splendour In The Grass line-up, where her band have their sights set on stealing a beer off The Strokes to celebrate a birthday and their rapidly rising success.