Going to a sold out show at the Triffid is always a gamble. Sometimes I walk out having the best night of my life, and sometimes I leave having been so suffocated in the mosh pit I could drink 3 litres of water in one go. Luckily, for Paul Dempsey’s sold out show on, in support of his new album Strange Loop, I was definitely heading towards the first option of having an absolutely incredible experience. 

Opening for the entire leg of his tour, Aussie up-comer Olympia was set to start off the show with a bang. She came on the stage to a lethargic applause, looking like the love child of Sia and David Bowie, dressed in a bright purple jumpsuit, gaudy gold earrings, and possibly the best shoes I’ve ever seen in my whole life. Her three-piece band consisted of a drummer, incredibly groovy bassist and Olympia herself, who rotated between two guitars and a synth set the entire night. 

She started off the set with single Honey, one of the singles of her new album. Throughout her set she made some small talk whilst changing instruments and played a few album tracks, which is always nice to hear, especially from an artist who isn’t well known. Her musicianship was impressive – her guitar skills are top notch, plus the incredible amount of multitasking she was doing in each individual song with loop pedals for voice and harmonies. She finished her set with the two main singles Tourists and Smoke Signals, which went off pretty well with the crowd.

However, I felt she was missing some of the witty banter she usually provides between sets, whether this was due to the larger crowd (who weren’t hugely drunk or rowdy, unlike in some of the smaller venues she has played in) or just apprehension from being a support act. Some of the punters were less than appreciative, which can kill your vibe as the support artist- they were just antsy to see Paul on stage. 

After a good half hour intermission, the Triffid Live Room was getting incredibly packed and Paul Dempsey and crew came on stage to huge cheers from the audience (which was actually surprising, considering I was definitely the minority age there). Joining him in his five piece band was his drummer, a dual keyboard and guitar player, Olympia (who played more instruments that I could count over the night) and her bassist, who were filling in for the tour, however I feel they added a great deal of value to the lineup. 

Starting off his mammoth 19 song set with title track Strange Loop and album favourite Idiot Oracle I could tell we were in for an incredible night. Paul has this stage presence where he is so incredibly talented and good at what he does, that it just seems effortless.

Continuing through his set with some album tracks from both Strange Loop and his older work, he doesn’t waste much time on between song banter. Volunteers, and Fast Friends made for a good lead up to what’s possibly one of his most well known songs, Out The Airlock, which prompted an almost whole audience sing-a-long.

He also added a few covers into the mix, which were pleasantly well done. Elevation by Television and Dig For Fire by The Pixies broke up his set well, and were well arranged and performed.

One of the highlights of the whole night was his performance of main single from the record The True Sea, which included a full audience chant of the hook lyrics. This followed into Theme From Nice Guy, another crowd favourite. This concluded the ‘end of the set’, and the band exited the stage.

After some excited applause from the crowd, Paul and band came back to the stage for not one, but three final songs - Take Us To Your Leader, Nobody’s Trying to Tell Me Something and Bird In A Basement. This finished off the whole night in a spectacular way. 

I left the Triffid fairly dehydrated from dancing and singing, but totally in awe of Paul Dempsey and the incredible musicianship he consistently offers. All in all, a spectacular show!!!

-Olivia Shoesmith