Live Review: Girlpool

Light glimmers in every corner as The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent slowly fills with people, each moving body reflecting infinitely in the mirrors that line the walls. 

LA's Girlpool appear seemingly from nowhere, easing into their set and playing a selection of songs from their most recent album, What Chaos Is Imaginary. The room is completely silent, the mellow, appreciative crowd all looking on in awe with respectful applause between each song. 

During a guitar change over, Cleo Tucker takes a second to ask the crowd what they think: “Can you hear the bass? Is it loud enough? What about the guitar? The guitars too loud? Ok, what about vocals? Can you hear me good?” It almost sets the tone for the evening: serene but comfortable, funny and friendly. Harmony Tividad continues with the chatter: “Brisbane, Australia.” She repeats it. “What do you guys do here?” she asks, to scattered laughter. It feels like they’re playing to a room full of old friends. 

They sprinkle their set with the occasional older tune, but mostly we get a feel for their new album. A little slower and more homely, every song is full of feeling. There’s a bit of a throwback to their second album Powerplant, which leaves us with a nostalgic feeling, before the duo finishes their set on 2015's Chinatown. It leaves us wishing we heard more from Powerplant and Before The World Was Big, but still grateful and humbled by the performance.