Live Review: Something For Kate, Courtney Barnett

There's a new girl crush in town – Courtney Barnett is so rock'n'roll. So charming. So relaxed. So damn talented. Her country grunge sound is a heady mix, all intensity and angst but total slacker chill too. It's Neil Young and Jake Bugg and Kim Deal and an Oz accent that doesn't cringe. Her lyrical content isn't all lust and masturbation, as in her hit single, Lance Jr; there are also cynical observations about trying hard to look like you're not trying, and mutual admiration between friends who save lives and play guitar. And a reference or two to the magic herb. History Eraser was the big closer and it left the crowd primed for Dempsey and co.

Something For Kate have been around sooo long. It's no wonder the stage banter revolved around which number record each song was pulled from. The diehard fans appreciated it though, with album tracks being played like Light At The End Of The Tunnel and The Astronaut. It wasn't all Monsters and Captain (Million Miles An Hour), although the hits were put on show. There was also a fair share of newer stuff from Leave Your Soul To Science, including the Gina Rinehart dedication, The Kids Will Get The Money, with an awkward 7/8 timing providing something unusual for a Wednesday rock gig. This reviewer was then reminiscing about how much Something For Kate echo Hunters & Collectors, right as the man with the Clark Kent curl broke into “Good news for beautiful people” and covered River Runs Dry. This was strange, however – even though it was an amazing rendition – as there's enough original Something For Kate material from the last 20 years to draw from. Given it had been four years since the band last hit Wollongong, they were at least happy enough to run over old ground with Whatever You Want, Deja Vu and Electricity to keep the fans happy. The band have aged well, not trying to recreate what they once were or desperately holding onto their youthful glory. They continue to be exactly who they are and exactly as you'd want them to be.