Live Review: Stella Donnelly, Lisa Caruso

The period décor of the Golden Age Cinema was the perfect setting for Lisa Caruso and her hauntingly beautiful voice. With a golden guitar sound that transported us to another time, along with pedal effects on a voice that can already reach dizzying heights with her pinpoint falsetto, the room was respectfully quiet throughout the set. We were treated to sneak previews of new songs from an upcoming debut album, including A Holiday and Dream Lover. There is a real buzz around this local artist and hers is a unique voice in the Australia scene right now.

The debut album from Stella Donnelly, Beware Of The Dogs, is highly anticipated after a couple of whirlwind years for the Perth singer-songwriter. The opening show of her tour in a tiny venue with an audience of no more than 65 people was a great setting to really appreciate and hear every single word.

Beginning with an old one, Grey, from her 2017 debut EP, Donnelly has the audience in the palm of her hand straight away. Starting out completely solo, she sings U Owe Me, one of many songs that relate to specific incidences in her life, particularly ones highlighting inequality and misogyny. It’s not all serious though as she announced, “Here’s a love song, and probably the only bloody love song I’ll ever write.” Mosquito is as quaint as it is loveable.

Talking sees keyboardist George Foster taking his spot, not on, but in front of the tiny Golden Age stage. “I can watch you now,” jokes Donnelly as she cheekily watches for mistakes. Following this, the whole band joined in for Lunch and it’s almost comical since the bass player also has to play from the floor.

“I really love this space,” admits Donnelly, having played a one-off at the same venue in 2017. There’s no mystery why. The crowd are close, there is barely a phone to be seen and you can hear a pin drop between songs. Season’s Greetings, a song about that dodgy uncle that gets invited every year is a perfect example of a song that feels light and fluffy, but tells a story of something deep and purposeful.

That tinge of Lily Allen is ever-present in Die – “Another positive song!” – which Donnelly declares she wrote so she could jog to something, but then hasn’t been on a jog since she wrote it. It’s the endearing banter, the rotating talented band and an appreciative audience that add so much to the music.

Donnelly declared before the final song that she wouldn’t be playing Boys Will Be Boys tonight for personal reasons and, you know what, that was just fine. We were there to experience tracks from the new album and we were treated to almost all of them. Finishing with her parody of a certain red-haired politician, we finished the show with a smile and an ever-growing love of a musician that is changing the way we talk about society's failure to support women – not with angry music, but with well coined, composed prose that can be even more biting.