Live Review: Cub Sport, Clea

Newtown Social Club was already packed to the rafters when Clea graced the stage with her band. As one half of the already established Zefereli, Clea seemed comfortable on stage, her performance seamless. There was quite a bit of chatter throughout the set, which might have been due to the haunting and dark tone to her folk ditties. To end, she played her track Dire Consequences, which was more upbeat and catchy.

Eyes searched the stage as Cub Sport began their seemingly short, but very sweet, set. There was talk online of Tim Nelson's vocal difficulties, but the vocals seemed to shine above and beyond from the very start on opening tune Sun, from their debut LP This Is Our Vice. There wasn't a lot of onstage banter, but to make up for this the transitions were smooth and they then ploughed into Vice. For those who haven't listened to the whole album, this is a track that has not been released as a single, but really is one of the glittering gems on the record with its rhythmic anecdotes, velvety and emotional lyrics as well as its pop sensibilities.

Only Friend then slowed things down. This reliable track's angst-ridden tone really resonated throughout the venue. The crowd also sang along loudly to it, further enhancing the band's confidence. Come On Mess Me Up also mirrored this tone, although with a more power-ballad kind of style. This song was a real masterpiece live; limbs were waving around in the crowd as people opened up to its raw emotion and Nelson soared off into falsetto. They then played their triple j Like A Version cover of Kanye West's Ultralight Beam, a cover that almost gives the original a run for its money. They finished with one of their singles, I Can't Save You, before swiftly exiting, leaving us basking in the contentment of a good show.