Review: Birds of Tokyo & WASO present ‘Birdsongs’ at Perth Concert Hall

Birds of Tokyo & WASO present Birdsongs at Perth Concert Hall
Thursday, August 24, 2023

Classical music lovers and rock fans joined forces, an intermingling sea of beloved band t-shirts and Sunday best attire, for Birdsongs, a collaboration between Birds of Tokyo and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).

Known and loved for their fearless participation in all manner of musical projects and performances, probably the most popular being their WASO at the Movies series scoring classic movies such as Harry Potter and Star Wars, WASO was a perfect pairing for the contemporary rock band.

Over 50 musicians joined the five-piece rock band on stage, conducted by award-winning composer, conductor and arranger Nicholas Buc, with instruments ranging across the strings, brass and percussion disciplines.

After an exciting overture by the WASO musicians, Birds of Tokyo’s Ian Kenny, Adam Spark, Adam Weston, Ian Berney and Glenn Sarangapany, entered the stage to great applause and excitement from punters.

Fans delighted in orchestral arrangements of the classic songs which catapulted the band to fame, in addition to new music from the band’s latest albums. Interspersed through newer material, Plans, Good Lord and Anchor were front and centre in the set list, sounding spectacular with the added range and detail of an orchestral backing. Likewise, a live rendition of Lanterns offered a welcome moment of serenity with the gently transporting chimes of a glockenspiel-like instrument alongside the soft violins and piano.

The band’s newer music was equally enlivened with an orchestral arrangement. With sounds more sentimental in nature, and arguably informed by the band members’ maturity as artists and parents, sincere themes of connection, loss, vulnerability and identity were complemented by the emotional resonance of the large orchestra. A particularly memorable moment was the performance of My Darling My Son, a song dedicated to lead singer Ian Kenny’s son; a heartfelt ballad about fatherhood and love that was perfectly accompanied by the haunting sound of violins, cellos and violas.

Despite persistent audio difficulties for Kenny, whose vocals came across as slightly weakened and flat through many of the songs (a problem which seemed to be due more to technical issues with the microphone), the quality of sound from the band members was otherwise high, validating Birds of Tokyo’s reign as a long-standing staple of Australian live music.

In true rock fashion, the seriousness of an orchestral performance was often interrupted with lighthearted banter and jokes between songs, particularly between Ian Kenny and pianist Glenn Sarangapany. However, it would have been great to have seen Kenny engage more consistently and actively with the audience. For the duration of the first act, the singer was largely mute, only occasionally introducing songs. While the second half was certainly more engaging, it was disappointing to see such an important aspect of the performance neglected, particularly given the intimacy of the setting and context.

Overall, the collaboration between WASO and Birds of Tokyo was a spectacular journey through electrifying anthems and intimate blues, and was not a night to be missed.

BEC WELDON 

Photos by Rebecca Mansell