GIG REVIEW: ‘WHEN EVERYBODY IS SLEEPING’ - KITTY RAE SINGLE LAUNCH 16/11 @ THE WORKERS CLUB
Upon entering The Workers Club on a cold Tuesday evening, there were cheers and quizzing eyes as trivia night proceeded around the bar.
Looking to the back at the band room there was a horde of people and a buzz I hadn’t felt in my many visits to the venue. Partnered with the excitement was a sense of nervousness. Can gigs ever feel the same again or will they forever be something different?
Kitty Rae’s single launch for ‘When Everybody Is Sleeping’ supported by Araminta and Alzzy delivered an energy and confidence that left the crowd assured that Melbourne at least will be returning to its true self over the next few weeks.
I walked into the band room as Alzzy began and it was a truly intimate and heart-warming performance. Alzzy performed alone with her guitar, which allowed her voice to take centre stage and communicate with the crowd who responded to all of her songs with cheers of joy and support. Especially as she covered Lorde’s ‘Royals’, the crowd all joined in to provide back up vocals and fill the room with laughter.
Workers really suited this acoustic style intimate performance as the music can sometimes overshadow the voices of performers. As Alzzy introduced her last song and thanked Kitty for inviting her, the door opened to let more people in as sounds of trivia snuck into the air. Many of us were about to hear our first headline in months.
The lights dimmed and the band began to slowly build rhythm. The lights flickered and Kitty burst onto the stage. This energy that she brought remained throughout and it permeated through the crowd. There was another level of confidence that you don’t get from recorded music that truly elevated her music to another level. After the end of the first song, the band room knew this was what they had been missing over the past few months. The vivaciousness continued through the set with new songs like ‘Swim with Sharks’ providing the up-beat confident sound she is known for. The set was not without issues however, Kitty’s vocals were drowned out in parts by the drums and guitars. In saying that, the band were amazing and delivered a great deal to the energy that the set provided.
The personal moments from Kitty in between songs included discussions about mental health and life during lockdown were reminders of where we had been over the past few months. It made us appreciate the music and performance even more. A special highlight of the night was when Kitty invited Araminta and Alzzy to the stage where they performed a Billie Eilish cover. This section of kitty on piano further cemented that Workers is more tailored to more mellow acts. The voices of the three harmonised brilliantly and left many in awe.
Kitty ended the set with two powerful tracks including her new single, ‘When Everybody is Sleeping’. The room jumped up and down echoing her new single, cheers and laughter reverberated around the room. A great finale to end the night.
Kitty will be bringing this excitement to our end of year show RSOM Celebrate on December 10th, so be sure to get your tickets and don’t miss out.
