Further proof that I’m no longer in JJJ’s demographic:
None of my five favourite Australian albums from this year have been nominated for a J Award.
Missy Higgins - Set Me On Fire
(2012: The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle)
Rating:
9/10
Key Tracks:
Tricks; Set Me On Fire; Link In A Chain (bonus download only)
Nearly all of the publicity around this album centred around it being the return to the industry for Missy Higgins. Nearly every interview followed the exact same course, with her talking about her loss of interest in being the celebrity figure that previous success had made her and the inevitable realisation that she missed writing and performing. Even after seeing all of this play out, it’s clear why she is held in such high regard by her fans as she is one of the most gracious and endearing public figures of our time.
As overstated as the whole thing all seemed though, it was an important message and it set the scene for what is one of my favourite albums of the year. The joy in the writing is clear and it is consequently a joy to listen to. Seeing the songs performed live (and thus introduced) gave an insight into the underlying meaning of some of the more cryptic songs, which only served to further my opinion of the album - songs that were previously just fillers became favourites when put into context.
I am loving Missy Higgins’s new album so I was really looking forward to this show. The fact that it was a seated theatre show promised something different and added to the anticipation.
One of the co-producers of The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle and a somewhat forgotten Australian singer-songwriter Butterfly Boucher was the only support for the night, mainly playing songs off her new self-titled album. She was worked the crowd well and 2003 single I Can’t Make Me (video below) was a definite highlight. Missy’s cameo on 5678 predictably got the crowd into a frenzy and appeared to indicate a fun night ahead.
I came out of Missy’s show a little disappointed, but that was more my own fault than anything else. My expectations were probably unrealistically high, so even though it was great it wasn’t everything I wanted. The set was a good mix of the old and the new and Missy did a good job of introducing songs and revealing the meaning of some of the new ones. Missing though was personal favourite (and highlight from her Falls Festival set) Tricks and bonus track Link In A Chain.
Photos via FasterLouder here.
Setlist here.
Ratings:
Butterfly Boucher - 7/10
Missy Higgins - 8/10
Missy Higgins - Unashamed Desires
(2012: The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle)
Album Launch tour:
Tickets on sale May 2
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (featuring Missy Higgins)
Live at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Fransisco - April 18 2012
Some new bands to keep an eye on:
Most anticipated albums:
Thursday 8 December 2011 - Felicity Groom @ Federation Square (Free)
Friday 16 December 2011 - Darren Hanlon @ Northcote Social Club (Sold Out)
Thursday 22 December 2011 - Big Scary @ Federation Square (Free)
Thursday 29 December 2011 - Falls Festival @ Marion Bay (Sold Out)
(Aloe Blacc, An Horse, Crystal Castles, CSS, Dan Deacon, Fleet Foxes, The Grates, The Jezabels, The Jim Jones Revue, Kimbra, Metronomy, Missy Higgins, Regurgitator)
Friday 13 January 2012 - Sons & Daughters @ East Brunswick Club Hotel ($45)
Sunday 15 January 2012 - tUnE-yArDs @ Corner Hotel ($45)
Saturday 21 January 2012 - Eleanor Friedberger @ Northcote Social Club ($30)
Tuesday 31 January 2012 - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds @ Palais Theatre ($96)
Wednesday 1 February 2012 - Soundgarden @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl ($100/$135)
Thursday 2 February 2012 - Röyksopp @ Palace Theatre ($75)
Friday 3 February 2012 - Anna Calvi @ Corner Hotel ($53)
Wednesday 8 February 2012 - Incubus @ Festival Hall ($95)
Thursday 9 February 2012 - Portugal. The Man @ Corner Hotel ($50)
Tuesday 21 February 2012 - Death Cab For Cutie @ Palace Theatre ($72)
Tuesday 10 April 2012 - Seasick Steve @ Corner Hotel ($69)
Dan Deacon, Aloe Blacc, Missy Higgins, Jim Jones Revue added to Falls lineup. Sold!
This gig was conceived by Bertie Blackman and organised by Megan Washington as a fundraiser for the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal for victims of the recent QLD floods. The night was a roaring success - tickets sold out almost before the gig was actively advertised. With an hour of the gig left to go, they had raised well over $30,000 but I’m not sure where the final tally reached. The artists for the night were Clare Bowditch, Tim Rogers, Bertie Blackman, Megan Washington, Dan Sultan and Missy Higgins, with Julia Zemiro appearing as the MC. Apologies for the long review, but it’s not often that you get six headline-worthy artists on the same bill.
