Stella Kelly Time Will Tell EP launch @ The Good Shepard
w/ Lilia
Friday, April 6, 2018
Showcasing her debut EP Time Will Tell, 18-year old Stella Kelly ploughed through a powerful performance at The Good Shepard in Leederville last Friday for an evening of heartfelt familial vibes. The mood in the room was instantaneous as punters piled in; the show that followed left no doubt as to why.
In the cosy dark space beneath the chandeliers, candid indie-folk sounds of Perth five-piece Lilia warmed the room with a dynamic set. Yet another example of the kindling talent Perth has to offer, Lilia struck hard with an engaging showcase of both original material and covers. Lead vocalist Richard Lilje seemed completely at home under the green and blue spotlights with an undeniable presence. Covering Kings Of Leon’s Use Somebody, Lilja’s vocals were thrust into full display as he sung with both clarity and control. Dominating the room with their final track Bottom Of The Ocean, the band gave an artistically inspired performance; forgoing a flashy, polished set they were raw, original and definitely one to look out for in the future.
Commanding the room’s attention with her powerhouse voice, Stella Kelly took to the stage with the confidence of a seasoned performer. Her stage presence was charged with energy that ebbed and flowed, allowing her audience to absorb her soulful croons. The atmosphere was electric as the local up and coming singer-songwriter opened her set with Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black layering each lyric thick with emotion. Soothing the audience into silence after uproar of supportive shouts (“Go Stella!”) emitted from various corners of the room, the piano rung out the initial notes of her first original track. The Man followed, setting the tone for the rest of the performance as she sung of “picking up the pieces” after being let down by a former love.
Full of gratitude she paused multiple times throughout the set to thank everyone for attending the evening and supporting her launch. Nerves seemed to seep through in moments between tracks as a desire to fill the silence and explain each track took over where I think with more stage experience she’ll let the music speak for itself. A distinct highlight for the evening was when rest of the band took a back seat and Stella brought out her acoustic guitar to perform her candid, melodic track Pieces. Even as we hit the tail end of her set, the entire room was completely absorbed, singing along and dancing before the band, as the chorus of her closing and EP title track Time Will Tell swept the room.
Generous in talent and spirit, Stella Kelly’s EP launch was an inspired showcase of songs that spoke sweetly of love, loss and longing. Delivering all the best Friday night vibes, she left a loving crowed tremendously satisfied.
SARAH DAY
