Live Review: Middle Kids

Middle Kids

It was a dream come true for Middle Kids to be standing on the Opera House stage, the band reflecting on why music had been so central to their lives and how this moment was a direct representation of that.

Looking at the three-piece's musical background, which between them includes two classically trained members, it's easy to see why this show was so special.

Tonight's set paid homage to their roots, with Hannah Joy choosing to show off her classical chops on piano, opening the show solo with Hole. The whole band, touring guitarist Cameron Henderson, then joined her for Bought It - kicking off the set in true rock fashion. They threw back to their earlier work with Old River before Joy dedicated Your Love to her guitar, telling us she finally met its original owner after playing it for the last year and a half.

Catching us off guard, Middle Kids played Edge Of Town mid-set, which was the first of many moments that got the crowd on their feet to utilise the space's fantastic acoustics for a singalong. The band admitted that this was their first ever seated show, joking that it was worlds away from the Ballarat show they played a few nights ago. Drummer Harry Day commented that we seemed to enjoy his banter though - much to both his and the crowd's amusement - with the laughter reverberating warmly in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Joy returned to the spotlight to play another solo piano number in the form of Doing It Right, which really showcased the depth of her vocal range. Continuing the nod to their classical roots, the band was joined by their dear friend and cellist Bo Jeong, who was also featured on their debut album Lost Friends; adding warmth and depth to the tracks Tell Me Something and Mistake.

To close the set, the band paid homage to post-rock with a lively rendition of So Long Farewell I'm Gone, which again saw Joy seated at the piano. Joy revealed that the love of the post-rock genre was not shared among the band, but without a mention, their excellent rapport and performance dynamics wouldn't have given this fact away.

Returning to the stage to much applause, they dedicated Lost Friends to relationships and the love they have for each other. Then everyone was up on their feet again for a boogie and a full singalong for final track Never Start, closing the show with a much-deserved standing ovation.