After a sweltering and sticky 36 degree day, what’s to do but stand in an overheated crowded room with 1,500 excitable punters?

If there’s any band worth seeing under these circumstances, it’s the ever-charming Angus & Julia Stone… with their beachy dreamy acoustic folk, local roots, and a two-week stint at #1 with their album Down The Way, the Northern Beaches siblings sold out Sydney’s Metro Theatre in a heartbeat – rarely have I seen the venue so packed to the rafters (or filled with steam).

The stage was richly adorned (much like angusandjuliastone.com) with baroque wallpaper, lampshades, heirloom knick-knacks, clocks and telephones, family photos in antique frames, and one massive stunning harp (which my friend threatened to swipe and make a very slow escape with).

Angus and Julia alternated instruments all evening: Julia between keys and electric guitar, Angus between acoustic guitar, harmonica, and trumpet. Personal highlights included:

• Julia’s Blondie-Rapture-esque rapping to Private Lawns whilst Angus whipped out his trumpet.
• Julia’s rendition of Better Shape Up from Grease (to which Angus frankly responded “That was pretty fuckin’ rad, wasn’t it?“)
• The crowd’s uniform and vocal agreement that Julia’s ex was a bastard for breaking up with her after she wrote him For You.
• A stunning rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams with Boy and Bear.
• Big Jet Plane – it’s a damn good song.
  

I personally attended the 18+ show on Friday March 26, but they also performed an all-ages gig on the Saturday to an extremely excitable young crowd. Check out the screaming! (warning – turn down your speakers)