Angie McMahon at Northcote Theatre
On a crisp and starry Friday evening in Melbourne, music enthusiasts and fans of all ages gathered at Northcote Theatre, to witness the sensational Angie McMahon in concert. From the moment she stepped onto the stage, it was clear that this night would be nothing short of extraordinary. Northcote Theatre, which is fast becoming one of our favourite venues, provided the perfect backdrop for Angie and friends, who put on one of the most quiet and most intimate shows that we won’t be forgetting any time soon.
On support duties was 2017 Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner Alice Skye, who officially played electric guitar onstage for the first time in front of a crowd. With her delicate guitar playing backed up by a captivating voice, Alice took us on multiple journeys; from living in Horsham, to songs written by her 16 year old self. Set highlights included Grow Up, Anti-Climatic, and Party Tricks – which have us excited to hear more from the rising artist.
The atmosphere in the venue was electric as Angie McMahon and her band walked onstage. The anticipation was palpable, and the moment Angie took her place in the spotlight, the room erupted in applause, cheers, and a few heartfelt screams of admiration. Starting off the show with a heartfelt Welcome to Country, and inviting the crowd to take a deep breath together, Angie set the tone for the night ahead as she kicked off the set with Fireball Whisky, our personal favourite (so far) from her upcoming album Light, Dark, Light Again, which was closely followed up by Keeping Time and new song Mother Nature.
Angie’s presence on stage was magnetic; her humble demeanor contrasting beautifully with her powerful vocals and raw, emotive lyrics. The intimacy of the Northcote Theatre allowed her to establish an immediate connection with the audience, making it feel like an old friend was sharing her most personal stories. Her first single from her upcoming album, Saturn Returning, was hauntingly beautiful, and led into Fish – a huge set highlight of the night. Older track Slow Mover got a massive rise out of the audience, who sang along to every word, which later turned to yelling during the moving breakdown of Letting Go, which McMahon ’embraced mistakes’ during.
McMahon’s 2019 Like a Version of ABBA’s Knowing Me, Knowing You was a welcome addition to the set, and had everyone up and moving along, while Soon saw the crowd easily the quietest at any sold out show. Latest single Exploding and Missing Me built up and up, with the crowd erupting at each song’s peak. More new tracks followed, with Black Eye and Making It Through seeing supporting vocalists helping McMahon out – with the latter being an incredible moment in the set.
Telling the audience that encores are ‘boring’ (amen), and that they only had two more songs left, Angie ended on a high, complete with bird noises from the audience, and an incredible performance of If You Call and her iconic song Pasta. These final songs were a perfect culmination of the evening, leaving everyone in the theatre with a lingering sense of fulfillment and a desire to experience this extraordinary artist once again. As the night came to a close, Angie McMahon left the stage with a promise to return soon, and the audience was left yearning for more. With a show that was nothing short of exceptional, McMahon’s ability to captivate and move an audience with her honest lyrics and remarkable vocal talent is a testament to her artistry.
Angie McMahon’s new album Light, Dark, Light Again is due for release 27 October.