Gig Review: Kate Miller-Heidke

Who: Kate Miller-Heidke
Support: End Of Fashion
When: Thursday 30 April, 2009
Where: Prince Of Whales, St Kilda

Almost two months ago, a friend of mine lent me his copy of Curiouser, the latest album by Brisbane singer Kate Miller-Heidke. I had heard the name, but never the music. Based on one look at the CD cover, the ignorant voice inside my head thought "Oh great, another pretentious look at me getting dressed up in weird clothes while I sing lame-ass acoustic pish artist". After a few days of it sitting on my shelf collecting dust, I was listening to JOY and a song called "Caught In The Crowd" began playing. My jaw dropped to the floor. It's rare to hear a song so brutally honest, filled with so much regret, and for it to be so scarily relatable. The song is sung from the perspective of someone who watched a fellow pupil get bullied during high school, but did nothing about it. The protagonist was "caught in the crowd" - something most of us can relate to during those awkward teenage years. She sings "If i could go back and do it again, I'd be somebody you could call a friend, please, please, believe that I'm sorry."

When the presenter announced it as the new single from one Kate Miller-Heidke, I grabbed the disc in excitement. I had been so foolish to let this almost slip under my radar. Curiouser has been my #1 listen for the past month - it's the perfect blend of witty and quirky singer-songwritery alternative pop with urban, punk, dance and opera influences. True ear candy! Kate has a distinctive vocal style. Before turning to pop, she was a classically trained opera singer. She doesn't shy away from this, in fact, she uses it to her advantage, including bits and bobs of opera all over the place (keeping one Dav Vo, presenter of "The Fool & The Opera", a VERY happy man).

The gig. She sang nine tracks from the Curiouser album, four from her gold-selling, ARIA nominated debut Little Eve and a few rarities from EPs and non-recorded tracks. The highlight for me was a song she wrote that very morning about an ex who had recently sent her a friend request on Facebook. The song is a great satirical insight into the whole Facebook phenomenon, and had the audience in hysterics. Everyone has a Facebook, everyone could relate to unwanted and questionable friend requests. She finished the track proudly stating "Ignore" - that poor ex!

Another highlight was the song "Australian Idol" in which she tells of career advise given by family and friends to audition for Australian Idol cause "they're even letting fatties on there now". Oh yes she did! It makes a complete mockery of the realty show, how we secretly love to watch people's dreams being shattered, their egos crushed. She refers to the the two "dickheads" who talk between songs, and tells "Marcia, Dicko and whatever your name is..." to "...shove it up your aaaaaaaaaaaaass". Funnily, John Foreman - the popular music director of Australian Idol - was in the audience that very night. I doubt he was too impressed. Considering Kate is signed to SONY BMG, the label giant who signs all Idol winners and many finalists, the fact she performs this song displays her freedom as an artist to express what she wants, without the aim of pleasing executives. She finished the show with her biggest ARIA hit to date, "Can't Shake It", complete with impressive sprinkler dance routine.

I had the pleasure of meeting her after the show and asked her to include the new Facebook track on her third album. I got many expressions of agreement from the people around me. My fellow pop-nerd friend David Lim, presenter of "Diff'rent Strokes", told her he looks at her everyday at work (cue a slightly freaked out and concerned look on Kate's face!). He was of course referring to her official calendar...or so he says.

KMH...Aussie pop with a refreshing twist. If you're yet to discover her, pick up a copy of Curiouser and give it a try. There's nothing wrong with being curious.

- Petro

Check out Kate on MySpace.