Live Review: Safia, Akouo, Problems - Pirie & Co Social Club

They've had a pretty decent run as of late, but nothing was more exciting for Canberra trio Safia as popping the cherry of their own headliner tour. And what better excuse to do so than in celebration of the release of their brand new single Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds. A near-miss of being completely sold out, and it was lucky Adelaide to host the final show. And boy they went out with a bang!
Unfortunately, walking in to Pirie & Co Social Club you may not have known there was a gig on at all; Problems' playing felt as though they were background music at any other Adelaide bar. This wasn't because their music was dull or boring, but because they were battling to be heard against the sound of a very chatty crowd. What you could hear was world sound samples teamed with mellow electronica. Apparently it was a crowd that wanted to be seen, forgetting there was music to be heard.
Akouo had to deal with the same issue, although talking over the snappy beats and hip hop sampling of this producer was harder to do. Most were beginning to bounce along and finally a few dancers hit the floor. You could tell if this had gone down at somewhere like Sugar, it would be a crowd getting down and dirty, hot and sweaty. Being the national support for the tour, Akouo knew how to warm things up for Safia.
Such a relief to see the crowd weren't stuck to their seats as the floor was jam packed ready for Safia to perform. For a trio the stage was packed: drums, guitar, synthesisers, drum machines, keys... This was a live electronic performance extravaganza! The layered electro-pop was emotive and energetic as a live show, while the vocals of baby-faced frontman Ben Woolner were utterly stunning. The tour title track Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds was received well by the crowd, but there was one last song the crowd was aching to hear – Listen To Soul, Listen To Blues. To start with such silky soulful vocals and lyrics was enough to almost bring you to tears, but teamed with that electronic build and scattered finish, it was magic.