Live Review: Grouplove, Mikhael Paskalev

Charming Norwegian-Bulgarian singer Mikhael Paskalev returns to Melbourne for a second time this year.

His unique blend of acoustic indie-pop is packed with cool, country vibes and mixed with an impressive array of memorable instrumentation including trumpets and harmonica. He performs a song dedicated to Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relationship and wins the audience over with the carefree, fun-filled single I Spy. Paskalev’s charm and personality shine.

Grouplove make an explosive entrance as strobe lights flash erratically and I’m With You unfolds after a lengthy, instrumental intro. Between the song’s catchy “ah-ah-ah-ah”s and “oh-oh-oh-oh”s, vocalists Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper bounce around the stage with spasmodic moves. An eerie, Willy Wonka-inspired intro becomes the infectious Itchin’ On A Photograph as the audience claps along to this feelgood number. You can’t help but become entranced by this diverse group with their contagious highs and genre fusions. Grouplove certainly know how to raise our spirits and Naked Kids proves a crowd favourite.

Zucconi explains Raspberry was written the last time his band visited our shores. After admitting Grouplove feel an affinity with Australia, given the size of their fanbase and positive reception to their music, Zucconi announces that they won’t be back for a while because they’re about to take some time off touring to concentrate on writing their next record. A touching, mid-tempo love song Let Me In enters the mix and Hooper explains this song was written for The Fault In Our Stars’ soundtrack. Hooper then takes the lead for their captivating track, Slow. Spun and Bitin’ The Bullet get everyone dancing while Zucconi prepares for a crowdsurf and then dives in.

The encore comprises grungy headbanger Borderlines And Aliens and two of their biggest songs Ways To Go and Colours. We make as much noise as possible and send Grouplove off with one last mosh.