[Live Review] MATT CORBY

Corby (114)

Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 7 June, 2013 :

Over the last couple of years, Matt Corby has become an undeniable fixture in the Australian indie music scene. In 2012, it was virtually impossible to go five minutes without hearing his biggest hit, ‘Brother’, pumping out of a radio station near you. As I entered the at-capacity Enmore Theatre on Friday night, it was interesting to remember that Corby is yet to release a full-length LP; however, it soon became clear that Corby did not lack for quality material to perform to his very attentive audience.

Corby’s greatest asset on stage is his voice. His warm, clear tone soared as he swung from high falsetto to a shouty growl to Jeff Buckley-style passionate vibrato. Matt Corby is a superb and showy vocalist, but his vocal tricks never felt devoid of feeling.

Corby and his band struck a gentle, atmospheric tone during the first 15 minutes of the show, with Corby on acoustic guitar, backed by a muted, plucked electric guitar and a flautist. Bass notes were provided by sparse drums beats that were heavy on the floor toms. 2010 single ‘Made of Stone’ was an early crowd favourite, contributing to the intimate vibe Corby had established in the Enmore, which is always such a fantastic venue.

Many of Corby’s songs feature Mumford & Sons-style crescendos of tempo and volume, and in a similar way, Corby’s backing band subtly grew until at one point there were seven band members on stage, including two drummers and two keyboardists. The band created a full, rhythmic sound that anchored Corby’s flighty vocals, allowing for some unexpectedly foot-stomping moments. Former The Middle East keyboardist, Bree Tranter, was the true star of Corby’s band, alternating between keys, flute, and backup vocals, all while swinging her long hair back and forth in the most headbang-y way possible for such an ethereal looking gal.

The middle part of the set brought rockier tunes and more grit to Corby’s voice, all of which was then stripped back for his solo rendition of ‘Lonely Boy’, the acclaimed Black Keys cover. The stage lights were dimmed to a dull, golden glow as Corby showed how masterfully he is able to captivate an audience with just his voice and guitar. It also allowed for a few of the (many) enamoured girls in the crowd to shout out “we love you, Matt!” to the certified dreamboat.

The band then returned as those famous vocal whips signalling the opening of ‘Brother’ were received with a roar of excitement from the crowd. The mammoth single was played up tempo and full of energy as the entire crowd sang along. 30 seconds after the lights dimmed, Corby returned for the obligatory encore (are encores ever truly spontaneous anymore?), performing a lovely duet with Tranter. They were then joined by the full band, closing out the set with ‘My False’, complete with stomping, bluegrass beat, soaring crescendos and a false ending (the lights went down and burst back on with the band) that illustrated the impressive stagecraft of Matt Corby, purveyor of good vibes.

Reviewer: Frances Bulley
Photographer : Louie Abigail

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvhZgwEoeWA