Live Review: Big Scary, Courtney Barnett, Melodie Nelson

Melodie Nelson's twitter profile reads “maker of wildly unpopular pop music”. Their self-deprecating streak may be more than surface deep if the level of nerves on stage this night is anything to go by. Their staid demeanors belie a talent and magic that could develop from the Beth Orton-style vocal and unique line-up, cello and synths adding endless possibilities. A shaky start ended with the crisp Colours In My Dream and the standout Carry Me.

Touted as a Dylan-esque storyteller, hailing from the eclectic Milk! Records stable of quality artists, Courtney Barnett is a hard lady to nail. With honest, refined songwriting and an amazingly talented band it's difficult to see anything but superstardom in their future. It was good to hear some promising new tracks slipped in amongst the now familiar History Eraser, Avant Gardener and Lance Jr, with one unnamed track echoing The Beatles I Want You (She's So Heavy). Her garage grunge alt.country influences are coalescing and evolving nicely into a sound all her own.

It's a bit of a fad lately for performers of a certain vintage to tour their golden albums, playing them front-to-back for their loyal fans. Big Scary are bucking this trend, instead doing it with their always dangerous second album, Not Art. In order to achieve the cavernous, stadium-suited sound of the new album, the duo have welcomed two extra bandmates to the stage, explaining the fervent sideways glances and signalling as they settle into the new live line-up and material. There's no doubting that Tom Iansek can sing, with a voice as strong as Justin Vernon and as versatile as Jeff Buckley, and Jo Symes brings a another dimension to both melody and rhythm. The new material shifts away from the old towards an epic, atmospheric vibe, with air and space where there was once a wall of sound. Closing out the set with some old crowd favourites, there was a palpable sense of relief as they hit the familiar chords and were able to relax and appreciate the love that a growing legion of fans was throwing their way.