Live Review: Northeast Party House, Alice Ivy, Sparrows

14 October 2019 | 2:24 pm | Jenny Nguyen

"[I]t was the classics that got the crowd going the most."

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Sparrows, a producer, singer and all-'round talented musician, proved why you should forego advice to arrive at house parties fashionably late. Her set brought to mind Edith Piaf and Lykke Li, with her voice the standout feature of a set that whisked us away.

Alice Ivy followed with her unique brand of computer beats and R&B-infused, sample-heavy tunes. It was hard to believe that the many layers of her sound came from one person, but it was all put together with meticulous care. Witnessing Ivy’s set proved she has matured sonically. Her latest single (which features Ecca Vandal) was a banger on stage even if the guest vocalist was not present.

The room was pitch black as Northeast Party House appeared on stage and started playing the infectious bassline from 2014's Any Given Weekend. As the stage lights slowly came on the crowd went absolutely nuts. True to their name, a Northeast Party House show has strobe lights, sticky floors, people on shoulders and plenty of dancing late into the night. The band have a commanding stage presence that seems to never wane. Visiting on the back of their latest release, Magnify, they played through a few of their new and soon-to-be-released tracks, which featured an undeniable groove and disco element, perhaps a strong indication of where their sound is heading. However, it was the classics that got the crowd going the most. That and frontman Zach Hamilton-Reeves, who revved up the Adelaide audience with his pro-Port Adelaide Football Club chants (only really impressing half the room). 

A two-track encore saw the tropical Calypso Beach chill out the audience before everyone was sent into a frenzy for classic anthem, Youth Allowance. Going to a Northeast Party House show should be an Australian rite of passage.