Image: www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au
Very few performers could get away with singing a heartbreaking ballad about physical abuse followed by a little ditty about begging your lover to turn off their ‘f****** phone’ and pay attention to you without seeming insensitive, but Kate Miller-Heidke can. With the voice of an angel, the wardrobe of a fairy queen and the language of a sailor, she is truly one of a kind.
Miller-Heidke’s work spans opera, pop and folk music, and is often a quirky mix of the three. It’s a blend that shouldn’t work, but does, partly because of the singer’s equally-quirky mix of subject matter (which ranges from stories of abduction to the perils of adding exes on Facebook), but also because of her wonderful sense of harmony and musicality.
Miller-Heidke is known for her Top 40 hits such as ‘Caught in the Crowd’ and ‘Words’, and these are wonderful in their own right, but her range extends far beyond them. She brings out a huge range of music in this one-hour performance, from classic hits to not-yet-released gems and numbers from her recent independent album, O Vertigo! (some of which she says have been described as being ‘like Enya on crystal meth’).
Vocally, this comparison rings true in the best way; with classical, full tones and the agility to bounce easily off every note without ever seeming to lose pitch, Miller-Heidke does seem like a faster, wilder version of technical singers like Enya. She strikes the perfect balance between technique and attitude, showing off her tricks but never taking herself too seriously, and uses her clear, high soprano in innovative ways. Sometimes even just throwing it out there in a seemingly-endless, heavy-metal-style wail that drives the audience wild.
Miller-Heidke doesn’t rely on much in the way of accompaniment, either; with only her husband, the talented Keir Nuttall, on guitar and herself on keyboard and tambourine, as well as the use of an audio looper, her songs feel full and supported.
One negative aspect was the noise from outside. The Spiegeltent is perfect for Miller-Heidke’s colourful aesthetic and is a wonderful venue in many ways, but its fabric walls mean that you can hear every spruiker or larrikin who passes by. During Adelaide’s busy fringe and festival season, this is a problem, but the other venues on this small tour seem unlikely to face this issue.
Kate Miller-Heidke is humble, brash, funny, sweet and wonderful. Longtime fans will hear new songs, stories, and witticisms on this tour, while newcomers are sure to be impressed with her stunning vocals, diverse sound and her sarcastic and cheeky personality. Kate Miller-Heidke is worth seeing at least once; but, if you go once, you’re likely to want to go again anyway.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Kate Miller-Heidke
Presented by One Louder & The Harbour Agency
Vocals, Tambouring and Keyboard by Kate Miller-Heidke
Guitar and Backing Vocals by Keir Nuttall
2 March, Adelaide SA – Garden of Unearthly Delights: The Spielgeltent
4 March, Fremantle WA – J-SHED, Bathers Beach
9-10 March, Montrose VIC – Montrose Town Centre
11 March, Upwey VIC – Burrinja Cultural Centre
12 March, Port Fairy VIC – Port Fairy Folk Festival
