It’s been four months since we could attend gigs and see artists perform in packed venues full of thousands of sweaty and excited faces. It’s been so long that I started to question what experiencing live music actually felt like, and if we would get to re-discover it any time soon.
With eased restrictions in Queensland allowing bigger groups of people to congregate in a social distanced manner, music venues have started to re-open and live shows are returning massively throughout Brisbane.
Welcoming The Tivoli back with NINE intimate shows capped at 350 people each, Lime Cordiale are bringing the party vibes back in a big way. To celebrate the release of their sophomore studio album ’14 Steps To A Better You’ which has just debuted at #1 on the Aria Chart, these shows are a direct thank you to their fans for their continued support even during a global pandemic.
With the excited crowd responsibly packing into night one of the mini residency, they were immediately seated in a socially distanced floor plan that looked and felt a lot different to their normal general admission situation. With a lot of people unsure how to feel about this obvious precaution, it was actually executed really well and still created a good energy around it.
Rising newcomer Mason Watts took to the stage for a brief 20 minute acoustic set where he acquainted himself with the eager audience. Opening with the unreleased ‘She Is Not You’, he immediately had the crowd onside thanks to it’s cheeky and honest lyrical delivery that confesses he was thinking of someone while hooking up with someone else. Saucy!
Interacting with the crowd in-between songs, his natural charm engaged people and showed his playful personality in-between the emotional stripped back songs.
‘Poison’ was another unreleased moment before he mixed it up with a cover of Troye Sivan’s ‘My My My’. Thanking the crowd for watching his set, he wrapped it up with his catchy debut singles ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘Recovery’.
Taking to the stage with drinks in their hands, Lime Cordiale were ready to get a little bit loose (safely), and launched straight into the singalong favourite ‘Money’. They didn’t mess around by giving fans some new album standouts with ‘No plans To Make Plans’ which included a Kazoo solo, ‘Addicted To The Sunshine’ and ‘Just Get By’ before throwing it back to ‘Naturally’ from their debut album.
“This is like a school hall! Hello rowdy school kids” they exclaimed as they stared out into the seated theatre which was buzzing with excitement. With playful banter spitting in-between songs, they built a fun energy between them and the crowd. “We flew on a plane today. I bet we are the only ones here who have done that recently” they boasted before addressing their new album. “We’ve been in full promo mode this week trying to get everyone to buy our album so it charts at number one. But I honestly cant wait till this week is over so I can buy the new DMA’s album”.
As they rolled into ‘Dirt Cheap’ they got the crowd up dancing in front of their seat and everyone happily obliged as they no longer felt like they were trapped in a Footloose world. With recent single ‘Screw Loose’ and ‘On Our Own’ wrapping up the brief set, the encore chants started.
Returning to the stage for an extended encore, they told the crowd that because there was no second back-to-back show that night, that they felt a little generous. ‘Temper Temper’, their Like A Version cover of ‘I Touch Myself’, ‘Inappropriate Behaviour’ and ‘Robbery’ concluded their energetic set. Well, so we thought. With another chant breaking out after the house lights turned on, the band stumbled back out and on the spot decided to perform ‘Waking Up Easy’. But after that, they were actually finished for the night.
It was a show that the audience didn’t want to end and the band didn’t seem to want it to end either. It was a fun and heartwarming reminder of just how great live music is, and how important it is to get re-established as safely as possible so we can keep enjoying moments like these.
Check out the full gallery captured by Claudia Bill Photography BELOW;
Photos by Claudia Bill
For full tour dates head to https://www.limecordiale.com/ontour