How Good It Feels To Be Alive

On Monday, I scooted from work to catch Courtney Barnett at the Bristol Beacon, touring her current album Creature Of Habit.

Back in March, I posted about the three singles that had preceded the album release, which were a bit of a mixed bag. That feeling subsequently extended to Creature Of Habit, which I liked but didn't love. So, entering Beacon Hall, I had an air of trepidation, especially not being that familiar with much of Courtney's back catalogue.

I was pleased to find out a few days before the gig that fellow Australians Body Type were supporting Courtney for this show. 

I only heard Body Type for the first time in April, courtesy of their single And What Else? which led me to answer that question by checking out what else they had to offer on Bandcamp and liking what I heard.

I've especially enjoyed current album Tally and I was looking forward to seeing them live in concert. They didn't disappoint. 

Body Type were set up in a line, from left to right, Annabel Blackman (guitar), Sophie McComish (guitar), Georgia Wilkinson-Derums (bass) and Cecil Coleman (drums). 

It was little muted to begin with, which seems to have been down to the in-house sound; Body Type were clearly kicking ass, but sounded a tad quiet. However, either a tweak to the volume, sheer energy or a combination of the two soon rectified things and those that turned up early were treated to half an hour of exurberant pop rock.

Annabel, Sophie and Georgia all took turns on lead vocals, Sophie unleashed her inner rock god with some mean licks and poses and the band were super tight throughout. 

About half of Tally was performed with a few older songs interspersed. Not a duff song among them, though Sick Bag got an enthusiastic response and I thought Eye Is A Mouth Is A Face was especially good.

1) The Charm

2) Sick Bag

3) Mulberry

4) Eye Is A Mouth Is A Face

5) Tally

6) Holding On

7) And What Else?

8) Buoyancy

 

Pretty much on the dot at 9.00pm, Courtney Barnett and her bandmates ran onto stage, took their respective positions and launched into their set.

Stay in Your Lane started the show, as it does the album, a suitably rousing opener and the now (very packed) audience were well up for it. This wasn't going to be just a straight run through of Creature Of Habit, however.

City Looks Pretty, Avant Gardener and Small Poppies all get an airing before the next new song, Mantis, which Courtney dedicated to an audience member with a mantis tattoo that she'd encountered before the gig.

Any reservations that I had about my initial reaction to Creatures Of Habit were swiftly dealt with, as on stage, the songs not only came alive, they glowed. Over the course of the evening, all ten songs were not only performed, they were transformed.

Courtney's "power trio", with Bones Sloane on bass and backing vocals, and Stella Mozgawa on drums, perfectly complemented her formidable guitar chops. This also energised the older songs, including a few that I was familiar with, such as History Eraser.

I've become quite adept at dancing in confined spaces, giving it some whilst managing not to elbow people in the ribs or step on their toes. So, when a smiling woman next to hugged my shoulder and asked if I was having a good time, I enthusiastically replied, "I'm having a GREAT time!"

In retrospect, I think maybe she wanted me to shift to the left a bit, as I was probably cramping her and her boyfriend's style....

There wasn't an excess of between song chit chat, Courtney and co. speeding from one song into the next until suddenly it was One Thing At A Time, closing the set, with a solo that surpassed the studio version for sheer impact.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before Courtney was back on stage for the encore, a solo rendition of Mostly Patient, a highlight on Creatures Of Habit. Bones and Stella came back for the final two songs, both from Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit.

Predictably, the crowd went ape for Pedestrian At Best and that energy spilled over into the last song of the night, Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go To The Party.

A few young 'uns tried - unsuccessfully - to create a mosh pit, but it petered out very quickly. What didn't dissipate was the energy, both on and off stage, though inevitably things had to come to an end and we had to go our separate ways.

A brilliant evening, all round. No setlist recreation today, because you really should go out there and buy the albums, Courtney and Body Type both. And, if you get the chance to see either live, don't hesitate.

1) Stay In Your Lane

2) City Looks Pretty

3) Avant Gardener

4) Small Poppies

5) Mantis

6) Same

7) History Eraser

8) Need A Little Time

9) Another Beautiful Day

10) Depreston

11) Site Unseen

12) Great Advice

13) Elevator Operator

14) Sugar Plum

15) Wonder

16) Before You Gotta Go

17) Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To

18) One Thing At A Time

[encore]

19) Mostly Patient

20) Pedestrian At Best

21) Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go To The Party

Another gig with no photos from me, too busy dancing, etc. However, I am grateful to the following audience members for their wonderful visuals:

Steve Parkhouse (Body Type, Courtney Barnett #3)

Callum Shergold (Courtney Barnett #2)

Troy Candy (Courtney Barnett #1 & #4)

Thank you!