Live Review: Eliott @ Northcote Social Club

Melbourne indie-pop artist Sidney wears her heart on her sleeve and hooks us in with her vulnerable songwriting. Her incredible vocals are captivating, and we feel every bit of sincere emotion she pours out for us with her acoustic guitar in hand. 

Sidney’s got a special connection with the headliner tonight (12 August) and even shares a song they wrote together that’s blended with a few verses of Kylie Minogue’s Love At First Sight. She notes her new song Imposter is also a song they both connected with and bonded on. 

Her introspective melancholic sound is heart-warming and filled with beautifully honest words that are sure to resonate with many. A cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams encourages a bit of a dance to round out her set and livens things up for a Saturday night. 

Juice Webster announces she has a debut album coming out on September 15th, so she plays some new songs off it for us tonight and some oldies too. She’s joined on stage with a full live band to share her alternative-folk rock music with soft and airy vocals. 

In The Zone showcases her relaxed vibe that takes us on a smooth ride. She tells us Without You was written so that if people heard it live, they could sing along by the end. The room soon fills with singing voices along to the blissful chorus.

“I put out an album yesterday!” exclaims Eliott as she arrives on stage, beaming brightly with a huge smile on her face. She dives right in with the first track at the top of her debut album; just calling to tell you I’m ok. “This is the first song on my album (25) written two weeks before turning 25 about someone I no longer want to speak about,” she reveals. 

Her soulful vocals are incredibly powerful and delivered effortlessly with incredible harmonies and control. Her vocal performance captivates the room as she continues with Tell Me, and the crowd sings along in support. 

Eliott invites a few friends up on backing vocals, including Sidney and Sam Phay, for her breathtaking triple J Like A Version cover of Joji’s Glimpse Of Us that’s turned into a huge power-ballad to give us goosebumps all over.

Phay also performs with her for Happy On My Own (originally recorded with Vancouver Sleep Clinic). Together both vocalists are incredible to hear as they belt out some unbelievable notes for the deeply heartfelt and emotionally charged song.

Eliott’s album covers a lot of personal topics, including friendships, family, relationships, mental health and self-acceptance.

She’s completely vulnerable and opens up to her audience with pure honesty and earnestness. One that’s very close to her heart is a song called For Oli that she dedicates to a person who was a light in her life that’s not here anymore. One of her favourites, Energy, was written with Angie McMahon and Dylan Nash.

She takes it right down at the piano for an intimate moment with Draw A Gun before an ode to her family and the country air. Her mum is in the crowd tonight and gets a shout-out for her support. The lead single from her album Control is a huge moment as the whole room comes alive and sings at the top of their voices to the upbeat track that builds up with an explosive chorus. 

Eliott closes with the last song on her album, Just Fine, which serves as a love letter to herself. “We’re all going to get there in the end, and everything is going to work out fine,” she reminds herself, imparting some wisdom to the crowd.