Gabrielle Aplin @ The Toff In Town, Melbourne (31/05/2014)
Entering the Toff, I saw that people of all genders and age had come to see English singer/song-writer Gabrielle Aplin, many of which would have seen her when she toured with Ed Sheeran. I had never heard her play before, and was instantly impressed by her strong voice. There is a unique quality in an English singing voice and I found myself comparing hers to Elena Tonra from Daughter.
After the song finished, she asked the crowd “How are you all going?” to which somebody in the crowd replied “Good, but my phone died today”. This light hearted retort shows how intimate the toff is as a venue and was a great way to start the night.
She then played some sad songs, including Ring Around Roses. I thought the lyrics were a bit cliche, but Aplin could sing any song and make it sound beautiful and melodic.
When she sat down on the piano to sing the Power of Love, because she is short she disappeared behind the crowd. I found myself watching her from somebody else's phone camera who was recording the whole thing over everybody in front of us.
When she finished, she played 6th Avenue a song co-written by Charlie Fink from Noah and the Whale. It was about New York, and if the new music she’s recording sounds anything like Noah and the Whale’s First Days of Spring I can see it being very good.
She asked the audience if they wanted to hear Salvation and they replied with many “Yays”. She had a quirky sense of humour, sort of like a witty Emma Watson with an amazing voice.
Other interesting points of the night include a version of one of her songs in Japanese, taking a photo of the crowd and playing her encore amongst the fans.
She is a talented musician and performer as well as a charming and friendly person. Definitely check her out if you haven’t.
Ryan Hyde
After the song finished, she asked the crowd “How are you all going?” to which somebody in the crowd replied “Good, but my phone died today”. This light hearted retort shows how intimate the toff is as a venue and was a great way to start the night.
She then played some sad songs, including Ring Around Roses. I thought the lyrics were a bit cliche, but Aplin could sing any song and make it sound beautiful and melodic.
When she sat down on the piano to sing the Power of Love, because she is short she disappeared behind the crowd. I found myself watching her from somebody else's phone camera who was recording the whole thing over everybody in front of us.
When she finished, she played 6th Avenue a song co-written by Charlie Fink from Noah and the Whale. It was about New York, and if the new music she’s recording sounds anything like Noah and the Whale’s First Days of Spring I can see it being very good.
She asked the audience if they wanted to hear Salvation and they replied with many “Yays”. She had a quirky sense of humour, sort of like a witty Emma Watson with an amazing voice.
Other interesting points of the night include a version of one of her songs in Japanese, taking a photo of the crowd and playing her encore amongst the fans.
She is a talented musician and performer as well as a charming and friendly person. Definitely check her out if you haven’t.
Ryan Hyde