Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineOctober 11, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, NPH, Northeast Party House, Alice Ivy, Sparrows, forum melbourne

Northeast Party House + Alice Ivy + Sparrows @ Forum Theatre 04-10-19

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineOctober 11, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, NPH, Northeast Party House, Alice Ivy, Sparrows, forum melbourne

words: Megan Henderson // photos: Daniel Hanssen @danthegigman

Review

*“…sensory delight, mixing the technicoloured laser beams with the constant stream of audible support coming from the crowd.”*

If you found yourself in need of a party on Friday evening and just so happened to stumble into the Forum Theatre, you’d have been a very satisfied customer as Northeast Party House turned the iconic Melbourne venue into a literal party house.

First up to open the show was Sydney's indie pop artist, Sparrows, followed by Melbourne's Alice Ivy, who really inspired a rise in the crowd's energy as she had us all involved in the music. Alice Ivy herself brought loads of spirit to the stage, and really knew how to fill up the space in anticipation of the huge party that was about to erupt.

Playing a hometown show and to their largest crowd yet, morale was at maximum levels among both NPH and the crowd. From the second the house lights went down and Elvis Presley's 'I Can't Help Falling in Love with You' started playing, we knew the magic was really starting. It was an interesting juxtaposition to enter the stage to such a mellow and emotive love song which transitioned into their first track and an ode to partying - ‘Any Given Weekend’, with the opening lyrics of 'I've got some Ketamine rolling 'round my place'.

The night was a sensory delight, mixing the technicoloured laser beams with the constant stream of audible support coming from the crowd, and of course the strong set list from the band. If the multiple warning signs posted up around the theatre weren't enough to prepare you for the extreme light show you were about to witness, you would've been in for a real shock. It wouldn't have mattered if you knew all or none of the songs on the set list - it was a giant party where everyone was invited. I don't think the crowd ever stopped dancing.

They played a neat spread of tracks from 2014's ‘Any given Weekend’ and 2016's ‘Dare’. For me, the highlights of the night were ‘The Haunted’, ‘For You’, and their new release, ‘Magnify’. There's something about Magnify that makes you feel a special energy in the air. Maybe it's the Melbourne weather starting to warm up… but this track makes me want to grab everyone I love and dance around forever. It's a definite hit when performed live.

The night was so much fun that it went by in a flash. I barely even realised it was over until they came back with an inevitably huge encore consisting of ‘Calypso Beach’ and one of their golden oldies, ‘Youth Allowance’. These were easily two of the nights most anticipated tracks that saw a whole new burst of energy from the crowd. The front of my shirt was drenched in beer by the end but it was absolutely worth it. I can't wait to hear more stuff from these guys, and I'll definitely be seeing them on the next tour!