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The master of the quietly devastating lyric delivers a rousing set
Image: Courtney Barnett by Tracy Hyman
Supporting Courtney Barnett tonight are fellow Aussies, Body Type, whose off-kilter indie rock strikes a warm tone with tonight’s audience. With hook-laden tracks like And What Else? you cannot help but enjoy these short sharp bursts of energy.
Creature of Habit, released earlier this year, is an album which benefits from a fuller sound, and that’s something which really shows through tonight in the surround sound and impressive acoustics of The Glasshouse. With the audience well warmed up by Body Type, Courtney Barnett takes the stage and kicks off with Stay In Your Lane, one of the exponents of that heavier and more upbeat tempo. It sets the pace for the evening, with City Looks Pretty and Avant Gardener following in quick succession, both tracks invoking sing-alongs from an enthusiastic crowd.
Though older songs pepper the set, there is a clear focus on Creature of Habit. From the country-tinged Mantis to the synth-infused Same, the first half of the set crosses genres at will, without ever feeling jarring. Creature of Habit really comes to life tonight and Site Unseen and Great Advice in particular feel much bigger live, especially sandwiched between Depreston and Elevator Operator.
The set comes to a close, the tracks slow appropriately with Wonder and Write a List of Things To Look Forward To, before bringing the evening to a close with One Thing At A Time, rounding things off excellent fashion. Courtney returns for a beautiful solo version of Mostly Patient, this feels like the crowning glory of Creature of Habit, an instant sing-along favourite. Pedestrian at Best motivates the crowd to stand for only the second time this evening, before closing with Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party.
It’s a set in which Creature of Habit really sparkles and shines against old favourites, with the more rounded sound of the band coming to the fore and the synth-laden tracks providing a new dimension to tonight’s show. Barnett’s elongation of older tracks with huge guitar riffs was equally excellent. It’s a shame that this was an all-seated affair as these tracks really deserved more of a crowd atmosphere. In spite of that it’s an exceptional show by Courtney Barnett.
