Narc. Magazine Online
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Tracy Hyman enjoys an intimate night of lo-fi sardonic wit courtesy of the Australian songwriter
Image by George Driver
One of the must-see gigs of the year so far, Courtney Barnett played a wonderfully intimate gig at Sunderland’s Independent as part of a small venues tour for new album Creature of Habit. This really was a special show with no support, just Courtney with her band and a room full of expectant fans.
Strong beats, fat reverberating riffs, lo-fi deadpan vocals and some gorgeous harmonies, the opening of Stay In Your Land has all the hallmarks of Courtney Barnett’s inimitable style. It’s raw and gritty with a twist of punk energy and a wonderful guitar solo to boot. Courtney frequently walks to the front of the stage for the guitar solos, leaning over her guitar, hair bouncing up and down in time. She dips in and out of the new record, adding a sprinkling of previous hits. Great Advice is upbeat and full of deliciously wonky, distorted guitar and syncopated percussion. In contrast Mostly Patient is calmer, performed solo; gently finger picked guitar giving an empathetic hug. Her wit and humour emanate from the introspective lyrics, full of realism, everyday emotions, struggles and a helping of hope.
“How many more do you want?” she asks mid-way through the set. The reply is “Ten more. How many have you got?” A few more songs and the band go off. However, this isn’t the end. Courtney reappears moments later adorned in a Sunderland AFC shirt with Barnett on the back. Cheers are heard, although perhaps some of these are for Courtney rather than the Sunderland strip itself. The mood is buoyant and we dance and sing to the final two tracks of the evening, Pedestrian At Best and Nobody Really Cares If I Don’t Go To The Party, from her debut album. A very special night with a very special band.
