Northeast Party House @ Chevron Gardens, Perth Festival
w/ Wafia, Willaris K
Sunday, February 18, 2018
With summer in full swing there’s a lot to feel good about, but Sunday evenings are dreary at the best of times with the looming thought of Monday morning responsibilities on our minds. Helping us cling on until the very end of another weekend, Wafia and Northeast Party House had Perth punters embracing the best of live music between pop up bars and the stars at Chevron Gardens for Perth Festival.
The venue itself is spectacularly set up for balmy summer vibes to be embraced at their fullest. The massive concert series returned this year with a thumping line up of live music with exciting, fresh sounds to be enjoyed from February 9 until March 4. With plentiful seated areas and tables sprawled out along the grass bordered by a lengthy bar with swift service from cheery faces, the immediate atmosphere sparks high spirits.
Seated on the steps with droplets of rain on my shoulders and a beer in hand, the electric melodies and soundscapes of Brisbane based singer-songwriter Wafia had me completely absorbed. The set felt intimate as the subject matter of her music explored intangibly vulnerable lyrics. The songs 83 Days and Love Somebody were two of the most graceful and commanding tracks that she performed with remarkable vocals early in the set.
Moving closer to the stage, the early chimes of Heartburn descended on a crowd that had begun to fill out. While her powerful vocals were encapsulating and the production was smooth, her stage presence could have used a bit more energy to bridge the gap between her as an artist and the audience. She wasn’t much of a talker on Sunday night however her music builded to create an atmosphere that conjured up feelings that almost made you forget the buzzing city surroundings.
The gentle touch Wafia brought vaporised as soon as Melbourne six-piece Northeast Party House took the stage. Renowned for their hectic live vibes, nothing could have prepared me for a set so packed with thick beats and a laser pounding light show. They were explosive with sound and energy as the audience peaked in numbers flocking in from the beer garden.
Calypso Beach and Heartbreaker were highlights of the evening. Lead singer Zach Hamilton-Reeves took a moment with almost absurd calmness among the pounding beats between vocals to stand and gaze out at the audience, seemingly absorbing the good vibes. The boys showed chemistry and closed the shows guns blazing with their banger tune Your House from second album Dare.
SARAH DAY
Photos by Cam Campbell
