Little May played a truly ethereal live performance at The Metro following the release of their latest album ‘For The Company’. This concert is one of many around Australia on their headline tour of indie rock and folk music.
The Sydney gig was supported by Australia and E^ST, and both acts had exhilarating energy on stage. E^ST, a young musical prodigy from the Central Coast, has been picked up by the likes of Triple J Unearthed and received airplay from Triple J where she was invited to play for Like a Version. She played these tunes at The Metro for us with an infectious energy, reminding us of her raw talent with a cover of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, as well as hits like ‘The Alley’. Although inherently groovy and relaxed in demeanor, E^ST has a powerful chest voice that screams passion and power, especially when she hits the higher registers. In tracks like ‘The Alley’, her vocals are haunting and show incredible range, and coupled with her signature vibrato, she seems unstoppable Even though her layers of electronica would be smoother when studio produced, rather than live, E^ST’s fun excitement is a definite crowd pleaser at live gigs.
Little May graced the stage with golden lights and blue hues, making for a truly beautiful show. This band has a very sophisticated understanding of balance, as each layer was distinctly different from the others. Each of their songs has a moving bass line and the drums come in and out like crashing waves. Their composition is so clean and tight and their harmonies are elegant and smooth. At times, their music is flavored with country vibes, with electric guitar that sounds inspired by bluegrass, and when they bring out the acoustic guitar, their music is textured with notes of home. Mixtures of tambourine and electric guitars bring a unique twist that brings their sound to life on stage.
As live performers, Little May are sincere and genuine. Their stage banter is sweet and authentic, as the lead singer classified one of her songs as being; “soft angst, I would say”. As a band, it seems their music thrives off dynamic build-ups in tension that lead to a crescendo, for instance in tunes such as “Hide”, which can have controlled majesty through haunting melodies. Little May’s new album shows a maturity that they’ve developed since their earlier music. I’m excited to see what’s next for them.
To Flaneur 