After a sold-out national tour with The Middle East earlier this year, Leader Cheetah have taken to the road again to promote their latest album ‘Lotus Skies’. Pairing up with perennial favourites Belles Will Ring, who are promoting their acclaimed second LP ‘Crystal Theatre’, the team brought their Lotus Skies National Tour to Canberra.
Playing to a small but enthusiastic crowd at Transit Bar, Leader Cheetah made good use of the intimate and atmospheric venue, with lead singer Dan Crannitch hitting the dance floor to serenade audience members at their table mid-song.
From their opening song ‘Midnight Headlights’ (the first song off their Lotus Skies album), the Adelaide boys hooked the crowd with their unique sound and onstage presence.
Impossible to pigeon hole, Leader Cheetah provide an eclectic range of songs mixing rock, pop, country and folk sounds to make for an interesting live show. As the band hit their stride with songs such as ‘Bloodlines’ and ‘Crawling up a Landslide’ it was hard to tell what was bigger; the sound or the hair-dos (who knew the perm was making a comeback!).
The highlight however, was Leader Cheetah inviting Belles Will Ring onto the stage to perform a rendition of ‘Our Love’ together. The tiny stage became host to a sea of guitars, singers and percussion, and was a brilliant showcase of Australian talent. Indeed, Belles Will Ring were truly spectacular on the night and stole the show.
From the moment they took to the stage, their enthusiasm and upbeat tunes were infectious and had everyone bopping along like a room full of bobblehead dolls. The big brass sounds of ‘Come North With Me Baby, Wow’ were impressive as were the many talents of Lauren Crew. Almost a one woman band in her own right, Lauren provided not only vocals and keyboard, but also Maracas, flute, tambourine, harmonica and bells.
‘Bald Mountain’ and ‘The River’ were crowd favourites, however, the pinnacle of the evening was ‘Mad Love’ and what was an awe striking guitar solo by Aidan Roberts—how he kept up the impossibly frantic pace is a mystery but the crowd was suitably impressed and it was an excellent end to a very memorable set.
