Opening act Seb Lowe gave the eager crowd an energetic performance with Kate Couriel on violin and backing vocals, and Seb Lowe himself on acoustic guitar and vocals. Musically, he sounds like a blend of indie folk and punk, especially in his socially conscious, critical lyrics and delivery.
Main act Sofia Isella takes the stage alone, but with a strong stage presence that needs to be seen to be fully enjoyed. Gritty, haunting, and honest, Sofia Isella exudes raw rock-star energy. Not only is the 21-year-old a talented singer-songwriter, but she also plays various instruments throughout the set, including electric and acoustic guitar, violin, bass, keyboard, and banjo. A standout moment was when she brought out her year-long violin teacher for a duet.
She moves to her songs as if being pulled by another force, like an invisible Pied Piper. A quieter moment came when she invited three girls from the audience onto the stage to sit with her and hold her microphone while she performed her song Evergreen Soldier. Sofia kept engaging with the audience in different ways, once directing the crowd like Bugs Bunny during Crowd Caffeine, leading everyone to chant “give the crowd caffeine” at different volumes. At another point, she went for a quick crowd surf.
In her distinct, slightly husky voice, she repeatedly thanked the audience for being there and supporting her, speaking with humility and sincerity.After the show, the crowd was clearly hoping for an encore, and with the lights still off, we knew it was going to happen.
What most people (including me) probably didn’t expect was for Sofia Isella’s voice to say “look behind you”, followed by her appearing on the bar counter to perform her encore, Hot Gum. I was already standing at the back and could finally see her up close. As she finished the song, she moved through the crowd and back toward the stage.
It’s fair to say she gave people a memorable show.
