It was a school night here in Perth, the venue in question is an intimate stage, there is no barrier, no media pit, no real separation from the punter to the performer – just a raised stage, purpose built venue with amazing sound. Lyrics Underground has an amazing reputation for providing quality musical experiences no matter who the performer is, and is regarded as one of the best in Perth so it was a fitting setting for Alex Lloyd to pedal his wares.
I was greeted by a steady flux of fans eager to get down the flights of stair to the entry, people bustling through their bags and phones to show the door staff their valid ticket to get a piece of the action. There were a lot of people just like me that were going to be just a little tired for a Friday at work but I don’t think they really cared. It was advertised as a sell out prior on social media (rightly so!) – pre-sale tickets had been exhausted but there were a few sneaky ones at the door, they were snapped up quicker than free samples at a chocolate factory down south… gone before they were missed.
Nome was the support for Alex – from Bunbury she joked about the journey up and just how hectic it was to get to Perth. Nome delivered a mix of covers and original music, she held the attention of the audience well dispersing a clever mix of crowd interaction and light banter. Never detracting from her main goal to entertain crowd with her delightful voice and masterful instrumental accompaniment she blew it away… her set was measured and calculating with the right amount of entertainment to keep the faithful on the edge of their seat.
It is interesting to watch the fans of live music ebb and flow between sets, there is always a quintessential rush, grab another beverage whilst trying to retain your prime piece of real-estate for the main event and being such an intimidate venue with an amazing main act the real-estate was beach front property.
Alex Lloyd is a multi-platinum ARIA award-winning musician who has performed on such a wide array of stage, everything from stadiums to local music venues (just like this one) you know that irrespective of the stage size Alex will give it his all. He has such an extensive catalogue of original music and covers that he has made his own.
Alex showed us his personal side, telling us about his life experiences, the ups and the downs – chatting briefly about his divorce and it reinstated just how human musicians really are. It was candid conversation that didn’t feel forced or coerced, it was real and it cemented just how down to earth this multi-platinum ARIA award winning artist is.
The selection of songs showcased his talent with the guitar and his depth in his voice. The fans fed off his emotion and his content in being on stage to perform. No one moved as Lloyd had their undivided attention. Stand out songs for me were “Green” – his 2002 offering, his 2004 song “Beautiful”, “Black the Sun” the classic from 1998 off the album of the same name, “Coming Home” from the Distant Light album from 2003, the chart topper “Amazing” from 2001’s Watching Angel Mend album and possibly my most favourite rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah” I have ever heard… it was truly amazing – if you pardon the pun.
All up an amazing performance that reinvigorated my love for Alex Lloyd – it has been a while since his last offering in May 2022, Alex released his first single in eight years, “Trojan Horse”. I look forward to seeing more of Alex’s music and I hope there is a lot more to come. Check out Alex’s list of gigs across the nation and see why he is a multi-ARIA award winning artist. He will not disappoint.
