It was the first time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing pub dance moves including the sprinkler and the shopping trolley on stage during a live show, but Kate Miller-Heidke did it well. Kate and her band do not just play songs on stage, but perform. At the Gov on Saturday night Kate’s personality, which shines through on her new album Curiouser, blinded on stage from her eccentric, but gorgeous appearance to her incredible voice and delivery. Like their songs, Kate and her band were witty, fun and energetic. Kate kept complete control over the stage, with some impromptu improvisations to songs keeping the audience and her band guessing as to where each song would go. Although Kate was confident and happy centre stage, displaying her vocal range further than on album, she was conscious to show off the depth of talent her band has, with each member getting their time in the lime light.

Opening the show with ‘Motorscooter’ it was the energetic pop that caught the crowd, but the slower songs like ‘Caught in the Crowd’ and ‘The Last Day on Earth’ that really drew the audience in. Kate played ‘Telegram’ alone on stage, and the slight nervous edge to her voice before she played the guitar for the first time in 10 years, let the audience catch a glimpse of the real Kate beyond her stage persona. Kate and her band are obviously passionate and enjoy what they do, but allow the audience into their world as well making any show enjoyable for people who know all their songs by heart and those who just went along for the ride.

A special mention to the supporting act Brisbane band The Boat People, who put on a great performance which much the same passion and entertainment value as Kate. A broken bass did little to hamper their act, with the band managing to pull off a few minutes of witty banter and sing an impromptu song about the unfortunate guitar without losing the crowd. Listen out for their song ‘Awkward Orchid Orchard’.