Live Review: Cloud Control, Julia Jacklin, Body Type

Sydney four-piece Body Type opened this event at Taronga Zoo that was bound to be brimming with references to the animalistic delights of a Saturday night. It's no surprise the indie-pop outfit were nominated for Best Live Act in FBi's 2017 SMAC awards; the powerhouse band roused the early comers with surf-infused tunes like Silver.

The silhouetted city blanched by the setting sun provided the perfect backdrop for the night's musical feast. 'Helllloooo,' said Julia Jacklin in a sweet, ethereal introduction to a set drenched in the same angelic tones.

As the wind whipped off the ocean and the sky unleashed golden brushstrokes, Jacklin and band delivered a tastier assortment than the picnic boxes offered at the food stalls. Her introduction to ballad Motherland was understated and witty: "I forgot [the lyrics] on live TV in Latvia," she confessed. "Don't think I have many fans there anyway." What followed was a wistful and sparse confessional. New song Good Guy got the crowd going. Jacklin's masterful take on The Strokes' hit Someday was a breath of fresh air that encouraged many in the crowd to venture forward from the grass and get a happy snap. Finishing her ultimate show of a year-long tour with Don't Let The Kids Win seemed only fitting. "I might have a sacrificial burning of this outfit in the carpark," she said before delving into the heartfelt coming of age song, which epitomises Jacklin's raw talent.

Cloud Control are somewhat veterans of Sydney's indie scene, playing all sorts of venues and festivals, their music ranging from exuberant dance tracks to hippy anthems and nostalgic tunes to ignite your youth. The Blue Mountains band's set replicated this progression with songs like Dojo Rising, an earthy bridge between the early upbeat, unmistakably folky songs like This Is What I Said and the deeper, darker, pensive cries of their most recent album, Zone.