Live Review: Gang Of Youths, Charlie Collins

When you are hand picked to support a huge national tour with barely a debut single released, there must be something there and Charlie Collins proved that with a well-performed support set, exhibiting smart songwriting and solid musicianship. With a smile rarely leaving her face, the ex-Tigertown lead singer won over the packed early crowd with single Wish You Were Here, personal stories of her family and latest track, Mexico.

She even threw in a brand new track, Damage Control, written whilst on tour. Sensitive and emotive. Two key factors that will see her and her band go far.

22 sold-out shows (minus one missed due to illness) - including a record six show run at their home ground, the glorious Enmore Theatre - is something that Gang Of Youths can proudly stick on their resume forever. It's a solid testament to a band that has, not only stayed true to their creativity and ethics, but won a multitude of fans worldwide with their honesty, support for important social causes and sheer talent.

To the sound of The Style Council's Shout To The Top, the band took to the stage and, just like their album of 2017, started with Fear And Trembling. The first seven songs from Go Farther In Lightness were played in order, apart from Atlas Drowned. It's a tour that celebrates the ARIA Album of the Year from 2017 in the same week that Amy Shark assumed the mantle.

"We're Gang Of Youths, from down the road". Dave Le'aupepe is blissfully happy to be home, performing at a place he's walked past hundreds of times and just 1.4 km from his place of birth. "You never dream of playing one of these, let alone however many we're doing!"

He's the man everyone looks at and while his stage presence is all-encompassing, theatrical and mesmerising, his band deserve huge accolades. Donnie Borzestowski is thunderous on the drums, particularly in Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane. Joji Malani shreds on the guitar, Jung Kim provides the depth jumping between electronic and acoustic keys, while Max Dunn carries the low end. The five friends connect perfectly in music, but the stage space is reserved for Le'aupepe to dance, to sway, to touch the adoring crowd.

A solo interlude gives the singer a chance to wipe his face, take a seat and a breath. The tour is long and he gives it all every show so there's no begrudging a rest. Persevere, prefaced with a heartfelt and tragic story, is a close moment bar the portion of the audience that wouldn't shut up to appreciate it.

In a special treat for the local crowd on their last show of the tour, we got one of their first tracks, not performed for five years, Evangelists. It's a nice touch before rounding out the main set with four huge hits, including the opus, Magnolia, that has the hallmarks of a song that will endure for decades to come.

The diverse crowd were frothing for more in an extended break and they were rewarded with a mix of three tracks, each taken from a different release. For a band that has only released two long players, the number of hits are impressive but Vital Signs, the first track from their first album, really feels like a classic just a few years on.

There were special touches throughout the night. Le'aupepe standing atop and lounging on the grand piano, calling out to his family and all of the band just taking the time to soak up the occasion.

The band, almost at the end of a massive year of touring, have developed their live show into a stadium sized performance that feels like it will outgrow these venues on their next homecoming, but Le'aupepe, the man with the nuance, the charisma and the moves keeps them grounded and aware of where home is - and that's where they belong - in front of a packed crowd on Enmore Road.