Words: Kate Bannah

Once in a while, a gig comes along so perfect that you can’t help but pop on your signed vinyl the second you wake up, and just sit there completely still as the nostalgia of the night before washes over you. That was me this morning, after the opening night of Carla Geneve’s Don’t Be Afraid tour.

The idea for the night out came from my mum while we were watching The Church perform a few weeks earlier. I was sceptical. After all, we’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and my lactose-free yoghurt costs $8 a kilo. But fortunately, the word “no” doesn’t often come out of my mouth.

I’ve lived in Brisbane for two years now, and as a big NRL fan I regularly walk past Lefty’s Music Hall on Caxton Street. Somehow, until now, I’d never stepped inside. It seems I’ve been missing out. My mum and I entered the dimly lit hall, and I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. From every angle, a stuffed bear (its head decorated with bras that had been thrown about) peered at you as though watching your every footstep. It was a little off-putting, but in an oddly enticing way. Mum grabbed a ginger beer, I ordered a soda with lime, and we headed up to the balcony to settle in for the show.

Before the headliner even took the stage, the night had already delivered a standout moment. A girl in a grey dress rushed past us on the balcony. I leaned over to my mum and whispered, “That’s Lottie McLeod! I voted for her in the Hottest 100.” Moments later, she was onstage, performing to a room scattered with eager listeners.

It’s clear that Lottie is still finding her footing as a live performer, but one thing is undeniable: she’s a natural storyteller. Each lyric transported me to the intensity of first love — the obsession, the heartbreak, and the slow clarity that follows. Lines like “I’ll build a bridge to your house if I have to” lingered long after her set ended. Keep an eye on her, because Lottie McLeod is going places.

After her set, Mum and I headed downstairs to the bathroom, which happens to sit right beside the stage. We stayed put near the front, hoping to secure a good view. As we chatted, Carla Geneve and her band manoeuvred around us onstage, testing the keys, microphones, and shuffling equipment. The room buzzed with polite awkwardness and anticipation.

Mesmerised by every raw sound

Then Carla struck the first chord of “The Saddle”, the opening track from her latest album. Her voice rang out with such commanding confidence that the room instantly fell silent. From that moment on, the audience was completely mesmerised.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a band that looks like they could play for hours – even without an audience – and never get bored. Every member of Carla’s band was visibly in love with their craft. Emily Barker carried an ethereal presence. Shaun Liddell Jennings seemed to be everywhere at once, keeping the band alive with his technical skill. And Bryn Stanford was clearly having the time of his life, hitting the cymbals with absolute precision.

This wasn’t a polished pop-star show. There were no choreographed moves or slick transitions between songs, and that was exactly what made it so compelling. The show felt raw and deeply intimate – like sitting in Carla’s living room, watching four talented musicians have the time of their lives. It takes a remarkable artist to step into a tiny room and own the space with complete confidence. Not perfectly, but completely. Each note she sang was intentional. Her voice left her body with so much conviction that everything else in the room disappeared, leaving only the music and the emotion it carried.

We were lucky enough to hear the new album performed front to back for the very first time. Compared to Carla’s earlier work, “Don’t Be Afraid” is more stripped back, more mature. After the album, Carla played audience requests solo with just her guitar. Despite stripping back the instruments, each song still sounded full and complete – a testament to Carla’s musicianship. Her versatility is also worth noting; not every artist can move seamlessly from a delicate acoustic love song that left my mum in tears to a rock track that had me banging my head along.

The band returned for their finale, which can only be described as an out-of-body experience. It began quietly, keys slowly building until they cut out entirely. Carla slung her guitar around to the front and suddenly, a blistering guitar solo burst through the silence, layered with stunning vocal harmonies. It was electric.

Safe to say, Mum and I bought all three vinyl records after the show.

This gig will stay with me not just because it reignited my love for live music, but because it reminded me how powerful honesty can be when it’s paired with genuine talent.

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