 | | Your Heart Breaks |
Laura Veirs seems to be known as much for wearing specs as she is for her music, and the fact has rubbed off on her audience to such an extent that tonight’s show is like a meeting of Four-eyes Anonymous. It’s so endemic that even support act, Your Heart Breaks, sport two bespectacled members out of three. Not that you’d notice it by the end of the set. By that time, the majority of the crowd have been too entranced by the gently dramatic ditties about space travel, friends, growing up and, in one particular case, a blonde-mulleted bare-chested freeway walker.  | | Laura Veirs and the Saltbreakers |
Laura Veirs knows all about such variety. Her songs are dripping with rich imagery; if it’s not the stars in the sky, it’s the sea. If it’s not the sea, it’s swirling dreams. As a result, her show was one of lush sounds and rolling rhythms, brimming with the splendours of new album, Saltbreakers - in particular, the brilliant pair of Nightingale and Cast A Hook - and older beauties, like the rambling wonder Secret Someones. What makes her special, though, is her humour, which not only permeates her writing but also sprinkles over her set, not least when she offers up her latest promotional items, temporary tattoos, for “if you’re willing to make a short commitment to our band”. It sounds almost belittling to say it, but it all adds up for a pleasant evening of stylish songs. And honestly, sometimes that’s more than good enough. Besides, you wouldn’t want it to get rowdy; you might break your glasses. |
