Milky Chance soar at sold out Festival Hall show
In their heads, Milky Chance are flying, but on stage, not only do they fly; they soar. Despite a discography built on finger-plucked guitar and its segue into electro-folk, the space on their studio recordings dissolves once it hits the live stage, in the most entertaining way possible.
Swift, gentle songs of Milky Chance’s were injected with a new-found speed and movement coming from the lighting and on-stage demeanour of the group.
Beginning with the emotional croons and haunting soundscapes of Fallen, then thrusting into the rollercoaster of intensity on Right From Here with an added dreamy and hypnotic guitar instrumental Milky Chance has a command over their audience, communicating instances of energy and climax, as well as more contemplative moments.
Lead singer Clemens Rehbein’s coarse vocals rippled through the crowd as he replicated his studio vocals to a T, highlighting the attention Milky Chance pays to their musicianship and pleasing their audience. In front of a horizontal lighting setup, the group capitalised on the width of the stage, connecting with every corner of the packed crowd.
Whilst delivering a focused and streamlined brand of music, versatility seeped its way into the set as Rehbein stepped away from guitar to deliver the synths of Fado, and Philipp Dausch alternated between bass and kick-drum.
As the four-piece live band performed The Game, there was a glaring juxtaposition. Singing “tell me ‘bout the rules of the game”, it was evident that the collective have made their own rules, and the payoff has been rewarding. In the intervals between songs, the audience was constantly reminded of their value and importance, with Rehbein repeatedly thanking the crowd for giving their music the opportunity to make its way to Australia, and for their vitality in the crowd.
Sharing about the precariousness of a career in music, and the gamble it takes to make music was a significant moment in the live set, cementing how valuable the give and take between audience and performer is to delivering an immersive concert experience.
Rotating through their latest album “Mind the Moon”, with nods to past hits, the ardour in Milky Chance exponentially grew and filtered its way into the crowd as their bounce and enthusiasm grew with each song. Yet again reading the audience closely, the quartet reached their climax with Stolen Dance, with Rehbein gently lowering his voice for the final chorus, allowing the sold out Festival Hall crowd to bask in the glory of belting the timeless hit.
Ending on a high, the group’s encore erupted as opening act Kim Churchill took the stage alongside Milky Chance for the final song. The entrancing and dramatic harmonica solo from Churchill and Antonio Greger provided relief from the grinding guitar and drum that earlier controlled the set.
Concluding their set, drenched in sweat and embracing one another, Milky Chance’s affinity with one another, and with their full crowd was on display. In one snapshot in time, the bond at Festival Hall was concurrently heartwarming and invigorating.
MILKY CHANCE GALLERY
