Mia Dyson
Newtown Social Club
March 10, 2016
Newtown Social Club was packed with loyal fans, eager to welcome Mia Dyson back to the Australian stage for the first time in more than a year.
Dyson’s band is a force to be reckoned with, effortlessly tight considering they haven’t toured together in more than a year. Liz Frencham was a highlight on keys and backing vocals, and the four-part harmonies were the perfect backdrop to Dyson’s rich and moving vocals. Husky yet sweet, Dyson’s voice reminds the listener of both an old soul and a child, a notion enhanced by the swinging content of the songs, from melancholy blues nostalgia to rock ballads about the joys of youth.
Highlights of the night included “The Moment”, one of Mia’s breakout songs, and the starkly honest and beautiful “Any Three Chords” from her last LP Idyllwild, released in 2014.
“The Moment”, an energetic rock number, had the audience up and moving yet completely absorbed in Dyson’s delivery of the song. This was a common theme throughout the set, which showed Dyson’s ability to really draw together the performers and crowd in a moment. Her tasteful guitar solos gave away just enough to keep the audience both enthralled and wanting more. “Struck Down”, a consistent highlight of Dyson’s sets, shows Dyson at her strongest. It is more genre defying and demonstrates an ability to simultaneously communicate both the sadness and beauty of everyday life.
There was a noticeable absence of iPhones and cameras at Newtown Social Club on the night of Dyson’s performance. Perhaps it was partly due to the demographic, but it also seemed a testament to her ability to draw people together into a moment. Both humble and joyful in her delivery, it was clear that Dyson really wanted to be there with the audience in that moment, and she made an effort to make her gratitude known. I think the audience did too, some more vocally than others. Like Dyson, such an honest interaction between audience and performer is something to be treasured.
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music@ssh.com.au
