More about: Courtney Barnett

From Where I'm Standing: Live from the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne opens with a short interview, showing Courtney Barnett as she discusses lockdown, new songs and how she has used the lack of live shows to finish new projects. She is followed by Gheran Yarraman Steel, who speaks powerfully about Aboriginal stories and traditions (the venue for the stream, Barnett is clear to note on several occasions, is on land traditionally owned by the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation).

Barnett's three-piece band is joined by a cellist as they open with 'City Looks Pretty', a track from her 2018 studio album Tell Me How You Really Feel. The addition of the cellist really adds to Courtney’s sound here: the wistful melancholy of her lyrics are truly enhanced by the echo of the huge empty room, and when accompanied by strings it takes it to the next level. 

Courtney’s set has the feel of an MTV Unplugged show: the band are in close proximity, with their gear spread across Persian rugs. It has a really personal feeling to it, like you’ve somehow stumbled across the band rehearsing before a tour, but they’ve let you sit and watch. 

There are a number of new songs on the set-list, which deviate from the upbeat and danceable to the sombre and touching: Courtney’s range as a songwriter is truly on show here. The band are tight and well-drilled, combining superbly with the cellist - and the new songs sound fantastic. The band also play a couple of covers, one from Silver Jews and another from Arthur Russell, a nod to the American cellist.

As well as the music sounding great, this show is impeccably shot. Courtney is bathed in a yellow stagelight throughout and her movements are tracked by a number of cameras. The relaxed jam-style layout of the show is in a real juxtaposition with the grandeur of the room, but this only adds to the charm of Courtney and her band.

Daylight streams through the huge windows of the Royal Exhibition Building as the show starts, but the dark sets in by the time we finish. As if Courtney and co haven't treated us enough, the show is to be pressed to vinyl and released in a limited quantity. A must have for any CB fan.

Courtney Barnett played: 

City Looks Pretty
Walkin’ On Eggshells
Write A List Of Things To Look Forward To (new song)
Avant Gardener
Let It Go (originally with Kurt Vile)
Here’s The Thing (new song)
I Never Get Lonesome (originally by Arthur Russell)
Depreston
Need A Little Time
We Could Be Looking For The Same Thing (originally by Silver Jews)
If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight (new song)
Sunday Roast

More about: Courtney Barnett