Live Review: Montaigne, I Know Leopard

Walking down the steep stairs of 170 Russell we can already hear the echoes of haunting vocals and the cohesive six-piece band that is I Know Leopard. If you haven't seen a live band with a violinist yet, you absolutely should. I Know Leopard are nothing short of angelic. It seems like there isn't an instrument they don't make use of up there and already the venue’s floor is packed with bodies pushed up against each another.

Montaigne explodes onto the stage, dancing and jumping through a jungle of flashing neon lights. She throws herself into every song with passion and her trademark free, childlike dancing. From the word go, Montaigne has punters right in the palm of her hand, What You Mean To Me is tonight’s opener and Montaigne’s sticky-sweet pop sound ensures the whole room of punters is lost in her voice. The Sydney local fills the stage with an orchestral presence when, midway through the set, she slows the vibe down for a more intimate and revealing acoustic track, instructing, “We’re all singing this together”. But Lie To Myself quietens the room (“You've made your mistakes/You push that out of your thought”) and we’re in awe of her refined-yet-raw talent.

After a short blackout, Montaigne takes the stage once again; this time without her band. “I’m going to play you some new stuff,” she giggles, before adding, “ps I’m not a shit-hot piano player.” But nonetheless, she delivers an upbeat, stripped-back track that soars thanks to the impressive range of her voice.

It’s been a full-on show and Montaigne shows no sign of slowing down, saying, “Things are going to get weird in here,” and she’s not wrong. Till It Kills Me is a defiant and passionate track, and Montaigne throws herself into it with no inhibitions. This song perfectly showcases the ‘I don’t give a fuck’ vibe Montaigne is known for. When the lights dim once again, we’re left hungry for more. And Montaigne gives us what we want: I’m A Fantastic Wreck is her final nod and a sweet goodbye at that.