UrbanWireBy Chong Si Min
Echoing the chorus of her latest single, Lenka’s exuberant performance at TAB made fans’ hearts skip more than just a beat.
As part of the promotional efforts for her sophomore album, Two, local fans were treated to a private showcase as well as the exclusivity of being the first country to get a copy of the album.
Photo courtesy of Sony Music Singapore
In comparison to the female-dominated crowd in her 2008 gig at Zirca Megaclub, the TAB crowd has an almost equal male-female ratio. Undetered by the 20 minute wait, the crowd welcomed Lenka warmly as she sashayed to the stage.
Donning a pin up swing dress and swaying her hips gently, the Australian songstress started the show with the titular song of her album, Two, and followed up with the optimistic “Roll With The Punches”.
Stripping away the thick instrumental padding in her album, Lenka’s vocals took centre stage in a live setting as she went through a compact set list consisting of old favourites and new songs from Two.
Coming a long way from her raw yet haunting vocals in atmospheric outfit Decoder Ring a few years ago, Lenka sounded more assured and showcased a wider range while belting out songs such as “Knock Knock” and “Everything At Once”.
Couldn’t be part of Lenka’s private showcase? Well, catch “The Show” here!
Video showcase: Two, Roll With The Punches, Everything at Once, Don’t Let Me Fall, Heart Skips a Beat, Everything’s Okay, Trouble Is A Friend (Encore), The Show (Encore)
Displaying a sense of musicianship, she then hung a keyboard over her neck, and gave an earnest rendition of “Don’t Let Me Fall”. Dancing spontaneously to the beat, “Heart Skips A Beat” got heads bobbing to the infectiously catchy tune.
Her strong pipes especially shone in the finale as she gave a jazzy, almost languid opening to the uplifting “Everything’s Okay”.
Called back for an encore performance, Lenka’s enthusiasm and obvious love for her music was infectious as the mostly sedate audience cheered wildly to the familiar opening chords of “Trouble Is A Friend”. Even when she missed a note, the audience gave whoops of encouragement.
By then, it was obvious from the shouts of “The Show” that a Lenka show will never be complete without the song that catapulted her to global fame. Her request for the audience’s participation for the “rowdy” chorus of the song was met with an explosion of cheers and applause.
[Check out our interview with Lenka when you click here]
As the song draws to an end, the audience and artist provided the best moment of the show – a chaotic yet rousing refrain of “I want my money back!” – before Lenka croons the last line, “just enjoy the show.”
And they sure did.
Setlist
1. Two
2. Roll With The Punches
3. Everything at Once
4. Knock Knock
5. Don’t Let Me Fall
6. Heart Skips a Beat
7. Everything’s Okay
8. Trouble Is A Friend (Encore)
9. The Show (Encore)
More photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanwire/sets/72157626043776887/