I’ve been listening to the Blondshell album a lot recently. It’s addictive. But during all the time I’ve been spending with it, I’ve struggled to think how to describe it to fellow music fans. This isn’t me saying that it’s especially experimental, or that it works with sounds that are in any way unrecognisable, but it does mix in a lot of genres in a way that makes it hard to tie down to any one definition. There are times it’s pure pop, songs that rock hard, moments of skater punk, ballads that flirt with country, and a whole heap of elements that you’d be more used to hearing on a 90s grunge album.
On stage, though, Blondshell comes across as a seasoned popstar. It’s a small stage in the basement at Yes, but she moves about it in a way that made it seem huge – exuding a confidence in her performance that makes it feel like she’s four or five albums into her career rather than having just released a debut. The emotion on many of the faces in the crowd, too, suggests that some fans have been following her for a lot longer than the month or so since the record came out – I see tears, grins of delight, a man with his eyes clenched tight while he hugged himself and mouthed every word. It’s clear that I’ve been on my Blondshell journey for much less time than most of these people, and that the power I have picked up in on her songs has been apparent to many for a while.
The genre hopping that defines the album does seem less obvious on stage, though. The way Blondshell performs highlights the pop rock feel of her songs and brings a cohesiveness to the setlist, helping the crowd to stay in her emotional range. We kick off with ‘Veronica Mars’ and are immediately sucked into the performer’s orbit, a zone we are more firmly pulled into by early renditions of the powerful ‘Sepsis’ and the entrancing ‘ Sober Together.’ Between songs Blondshell keeps the audience in the palm of her hand with her charm and effusiveness – she’s a warm, engaging performer and I can see why so many people in the room are hooked.
A surprising cover of ‘Charm You’ from the recent Samia album goes off, before ‘Salad’ really ramps up the intensity. It’s the album’s rockiest song and that comes across as the basement walls shake. ‘Dangerous’ is one of the most emotional moments on the LP and that rings true tonight, too. And it is no surprise to me that the album highlight ‘Kiss City’ is also the standout moment from the set, the audience roaring the line ‘I think my kink is when you tell me that you think I’m pretty’ back at the star standing centre stage. Most of the album is performed, with other songs filling out the setlist – but even with there being a limit to how much material is available, this feels like a fully fleshed out and hugely impactful show. The audience look knackered and happy after the encore. Blondshell has smashed it.
Part of the reason the audience look knackered might also be down to the fact that the partying started early here. I can’t finish this review without mentioning the exceptional set from support act Girl and Girl, a four piece from Brisbane who brought a huge punky energy to a set full of fun, frantic songs. They are an act you should definitely be keeping an eye on.
Words by Fran Slater
Picky Bastards 
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