AMY SHARK - Cry Forever - Sydney
Pictured: Amy Shark from Cry Forever album cover by photographer Max Doyle - Max Doyle Studio
Background image: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
Live @ Qudos Bank Arena - Sydney, NSW - Saturday 12 June 2021
Written by: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
With the most recent Covid restrictions in Melbourne having just been lifted and a record-breaking polar blast being replaced by cloudless skies in Sydney, you could be forgiven for feeling optimistic on Saturday. Especially if you had a ticket to AMY SHARK’s show in Sydney. As it turns out, the Cry Forever tour is the first approved arena tour since Covid, a fitting milestone after the long-awaited build up to the release of AMY SHARK’s second studio album. After lighting up the stage in Newcastle on Friday, it seemed fitting that audiences arrived at the Qudos Bank Arena with a background of cheers from ANZ Stadium next door, where the NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS played the SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (and were defeated).
TEENAGE JOANS
Pictured: Tahlia Borg + Cahli Blakers - TEENAGE JOANS
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
TEENAGE JOANS are a two-piece indie rock band from Adelaide, South Australia. The female duo consists of drummer Tahlia Borg and guitarist Cahli Blakers who combine their vocals to deliver a light, airy groove with an injection of explosive punk that made for a great way to open the night on Saturday. Having formed in 2018, the pair rose to prominence with the release of By The Way in July 2020, which they played energetically along with songs from their latest EP ‘Taste Of Me’. To see such bold sound come out of such little people was something else to witness. Needless to say when I saw Cahli unexpectedly rip into a growl that could compete with most grown men I was thankful that my camera was strapped to my wrist. As Cahli said herself “We’re just babies… This is definitely the biggest venue we’ve ever played!” … but I doubt it will be their last.
EVIE IRIE
Pictured: Evie Irie + her band - EVIE IRIE
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
EVIE IRIE was an injection of energy that I definitely wasn’t expecting. The 18-year-old from the Central Coast in NSW mixed original pop songs from her debut EP Five Weeks In LA (2019) with her own unique covers of songs like Torn by Tina Arena. When she appeared in front of me with her band, I hadn’t even taken my lens cap off before she seemingly teleported to the other end of the stage with a weightless vitality. Even from my seat back in the arena the stage was lit up by an intensely energetic performance that was mirrored through the music. A big arena with an ever-growing crowd might dwarf a lesser performer but EVIE took control right to the end. Positive motivations paved the opening of her latest hit The Optimist, evolving into an anthemic cornerstone piece that left the audience energised and cheering for more.
AMY SHARK
Pictured: Amy Shark - AMY SHARK
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
As the photographers waited in the photo pit for AMY SHARK to appear, a growing crowd was filling up the seats behind them. When the curtain dropped and Amy tentatively walked out onto the stage, the roar was the kind that I hadn’t heard since February last year. The cosy red puffer jacket only lasted for one song The Wolves which is also the opening track of her new album. One thing that stood out to me was how personable Amy is with the crowd, making it about them as much as her. It was clearly unbelievable that she was playing to such a massive audience after the year we’ve had, which she repeated time and again.
Pictured: Reece McMillan (photographer), Amy Shark - AMY SHARK, Christian (SCENEzine) + Unknown photographer
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
Some of the most powerful moments of AMY SHARK’s performance were the times when the lights dropped and it was just Amy and her guitar. Whether acoustic, electric or her quarter sized acoustic used for The Worst Day Of My Life, Amy is able to silence an arena and bring the audience into the palm of her hand. There is something so pure about such a stripped back performance that made the audience’s phone torches seem that much more special. Of-course that doesn’t take away from the impact of her incredibly spirited indie-pop tracks like Everybody Rise and Come On but rather added to it.
Pictured: Amy Shark - AMY SHARK
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
About two thirds of the way through the performance Amy said “For just one song I think we should break the rules…” before playing an explosive cover of Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS. What happened then can only be described as an eruption of energy from the crowd that took things to the next level. Suddenly the entire stage was at Amy’s disposal as her performance embodied the kind of vigour that ramped up exponentially. Amy had a different look in her eyes, and her perfectly imperfect hair began to make sense as her true character shone through.
Pictured: Amy Shark + Band - AMY SHARK
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
Which reminds me… Big shout out to the set designers, lighting technicians, stage techs and sound engineers. The Qudos Bank Arena has the ability to focus the the sensory elements in a way that makes everything look and sound beyond amazing. From the dynamic lighting and neon AMY SHARK sign to the unbelievable sound that can turn 2 teenage girls into a punk force to be reckoned with, everything was on point. As AMY SHARK said herself “It takes a huge team to put on a show like tonight!”
Pictured: Amy Shark - AMY SHARK
Photographer: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
“All you guys in the audience. Don’t think that I can’t see you there wearing all my merch, and don’t think I can’t hear you singing with me. What we have here is something really special.” Then with a small quip about all the haters and show-stopping performance of I Said Hi, the white confetti that blasted out of cannons and showered the crowd like winter snow felt anything but cold.
The Verdict
Despite her introspective lyrics and seeming reservedness about her success, AMY SHARK has an amazing ability to create an extremely positive and heart-warming atmosphere. The performance and execution of the show was spot on and seemed to leave everyone elated, including me. I just wish we could dance.
