It’s been five long years since St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) graced Australian stages, since then she has written hits with Taylor Swift (‘Cruel Summer’) and Olivia Rodrigo (‘Obsessed.’) But tonight she’s back and ready to dazzle Melbourne at the legendary Palais Theatre in St. Kilda. This special performance is part of Victoria’s ALWAYS LIVE project—a state-wide celebration of contemporary music backed by the Victorian Government and Frontier Touring.
2024 has been nothing short of monumental for St. Vincent. Her seventh studio album, All Born Screaming, has taken the music world by storm, earning rave reviews from critics including Backseat Mafia and snagging multiple Grammy nominations. Not only is the record up for Best Alternative Album, but its powerful lead single, ‘Broken Man,’ has also been nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. To cap things off, she joined Paul McCartney and Jack White to perform ‘The End,’ in Mexico recently.
As fans gather at the historic venue tonight, one thing is clear: St. Vincent’s return to Australia is more than just a gig—it’s an event. With her signature blend of genre-defying artistry and electric live presence, this show promises to be unforgettable.
First on stage is Lotte Gallagher, a revelation in transformation. The last time I saw her, at Sydney’s Metro Theatre, she was cloaked in the whimsy of a pink tutu—a performer leaning into the softness of youth. Tonight, that version of Lotte is a memory. She steps into the spotlight as someone entirely new: poised, self-assured, a woman in full command of her space.
When St. Vincent takes the stage, it’s like a spark meeting gasoline, and behind her, her band ignites. Jason Faulkner’s guitar cuts like shards of glass, Mark Guiliana’s drums ricochet with precision, Rachel Eckroth’s keys shimmer and swirl, and Charlotte Kemp Muhl’s bass grooves run deep. Their sound, sharp and unrelenting, becomes the scaffolding for St. Vincent’s electric presence, amplifying her every move, every twist of the guitar, every sly grin, until the performance teeters on the edge of transcendence. It’s an ecosystem of sonic brilliance, each player feeding into the wild energy that makes her onstage alchemy so singular.
From the first fractured chords of ‘Reckless,’ St. Vincent doesn’t just command the stage—she devours it. The song begins in a fragile hush, her voice a blade cutting through the quiet, before detonating into a full-throttle guitar blitz, raw and unrelenting. It’s a setup, a declaration: you’re in her world now. Her setlist darts between the jagged edges of her latest album and the crowd-pleasing hits, with ‘Los Ageless’ and the achingly tender ‘New York.’ Every note, every gesture is intentional, electric. Dressed in bold black and white, she exudes the kind of frenetic energy that makes the room feel alive—like anything could happen. By the end, it’s clear: this is her kingdom, and she’s ruling it with no intention of slowing down.
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