Live Review: Lorde, Oliver Tank

Quiet and reserved Oliver Tank began the processions at the Metro Theatre last night, playing to an intimidatingly packed audience that were impatiently waiting to see a young, small Kiwi girl.

Tank is a beautiful lyricist and a fantastic musician and the Metro Theatre is not a venue that does him justice. It's hard to truly appreciate someone's music when they are playing in a big, uninviting space full of people drinking and talking. Having said that there was definitely a tear or two in the audience when he closed with his haunting track Beautiful. Such a talent.

Then it was time. Bathed in a constant golden glow, with her long curls cascading left and right to the music, little Lorde came out and effortlessly sung her big heart out on the trials, tribulations and dreams of 16-year-old girls around the world.

From opener Bravado, Lorde demonstrated why she is currently topping charts worldwide, as her husky voice managed to easily gain the attention of the heaving, sold-out crowd. With the confidence of a seasoned performer Lorde soared through tracks off her LP The Love Club and her debut album Pure Heroine. She lamented about young crushes on boys in the dreamy Buzzcut Season and told us what it was that White Teeth Teens wanted.

Throughout her set Lorde proved time and time again that whilst still a fledgling artist, she has the talent and the prowess to stick around. Her cover of Kanye West's Hold My Liquor was an unexpected delight and it was true testament to her talent as a performer that she was able to naturally morph from that song into her own Ribs. Tennis Court and her chart-topping Royals delivered the biggest response from the audience, the latter developing into an all-encompassing chant throughout the crowd. 

It's hard to watch Lorde perform and believe that she is really only 16 years old. Her songs encapsulate maturity far beyond one's teen years, and her effortless poise live gives the impression of years of experience. Considering she has already captured the world's attention, it will be exciting to see just how far Lorde can go.