Ruby Fields | Croxton Bandroom | 24th April
With an album drop and a show at Thornbury’s Croxton Bandroom to kick off their Australian tour, April 24th was officially Ruby Fields’ day. I had been looking forward to this one for a while, having followed her music since late high school. I remember discovering her first couple EPs, being excited about her Triple J appearances, and celebrating her first album. And now I have finally seen the band live, on their release tour of Small Achievements. And I can confidently say, their music has never been better.
The night started with Platonic Sex, who, out the gates, had more intensity than I expected. Their intensity was later balanced with refrain, where I found they really got to show off their personal lyrics and impressive singing. For a band that said they hadn’t practiced their jokes, I also found that Platonic Sex brought a lot of personality to the stage. Every member got the chance to express themselves in a way that I found really endearing. Following them was Mac the Knife. Loud, stylish and engaging from start to finish, Mac the Knife drew a sizeable crowd and really got them moving ahead of the Ruby Fields set. Their songs feel like they are born for the stage, but that didn’t stop lead singer Bryn Chapman Parish from doing an unmissable foray into the crowd.
Next up was Ruby Fields herself. Maybe it was the way she talked about the struggles of the last few years, maybe it was the “small achiever” trophy that she awarded an audience member nominated by their friends, or maybe it was just the album’s name sneaking into the back of my head, but whatever it was, I could not stop myself from thinking over and over throughout the night, “I cannot believe this exists. I cannot believe how good this is.” This album is such a triumph, and watching it live feels incredibly rewarding. There was not a single wasted breath in the headliner’s set. Every song felt like it could have been the most important of the night, only to be in direct competition with the following song. The band played the entire album in order, with some old hits interspersed throughout; Pretty Grim, Dinosaurs, Ritalin and Song About A Boy as an unexpected encore. And when I say unexpected, I really mean it. Despite the band usually avoiding encores, and the house lights attempting to clear the venue, not a single person moved at the show’s end. Everyone just kept staring at the stage, as if in disbelief that it was all over. No one wanted the night to end, a testament to the band’s uniquely exciting set.
As far as the new album goes, I think it is Ruby Fields’ strongest work to date. Whilst I hadn’t listened to the album before going, I’ve already listened to it many times since. I find myself constantly switching back and forth between my favourite song, and I really admire some of its bolder swings; the spoken word opening, the churchy organ with a choir backing, the dramatic changes in pacing that remind me of the moment in Dinosaurs where all the instruments come crashing in. It’s safe to say that this album has a greater variety of sounds than ever before, but it is still backed by the same rock-solid foundation of all Ruby Fields’ past hits, emotional storytelling. Ruby Fields continues to use the stories and people closest to her to construct her songs, and it gives them a personality that a lot of artists aspire to have but sorely miss. The reality of these songs also serves to enhance the live performance, as each story feels so much more real when you are standing in the room with the person who experienced them. If I was to describe this band with a single word, I think I would have to say “authentic.” It is impossible to not be engaged with every single second of every story they tell.
If you live in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, be sure to catch Ruby Fields and her amazing supports on her upcoming shows. You won’t regret it.