Skipping Girl Triumph at Northcote

One would have been forgiven for questioning whether Northcote Social Club was playing host to a darkened, indoor picnic rather than a Skipping Girl Vinegar gig; as the vast majority of the crowd were sprawled comfortably out across the floor on blankets rather than adopting the usual vertical position. Despite being slightly phased by the hundred or so cross-legged music fans seated around me, I went with the masses and sat, feeling slightly excited by the unconventional setting.

Sitting fans at SGV

The Melburnian four-piece band, named in homage to the landmark animated neon sign in Melbourne’s Victoria Street, had already managed to create a friendly and natural environment despite not actually having made an entrance at this point.

The relaxed, picnic evocation was further enhanced by the band’s intricate attention to detail in regards to stage décor and aesthetics, having meticulously adorned their performance space with vines and foliage; subsequently positioning us in what felt like the heart of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel, ‘The Secret Garden’. The inclusion of an antique telephone, cardboard black and white bird decorations, and various other trinkets felt almost contradictory to the carefree festival vibe buzzing through the expectant audience; that such a natural atmosphere could be conjured from such finely crafted attention to detail.

After entering to appreciative applause, Skipping Girl – comprising of brother/sister duo Mark and Sare Lang, and their respective childhood friends Chris Helm and Amanthi Lynch – gushed heartfelt thanks at the crowd for making the trip on such an intense summer evening; also expressing equal, humorous gratuity towards the venue’s air conditioning.

Opening with a surprisingly mellow and soulful offering, Mark Lang (vocals/guitar) then entertained the sitting fans with tales of frequent commutes between Melbourne and Sydney and the weird and wonderful toilet graffiti encountered along the way. The revelation that the band often left Melbourne on a Wednesday, and drove to play Sydney the following day made their next song – with the deeply infectious melody and line ‘I drove for miles’ feel particularly poignant.

Throughout their set, Skipping Girl flitted effortlessly between upbeat, up-tempo indie anthems and soulful, delicate offerings without appearing jarred or inconsistent. The result was an emotional journey of highly charged, infectious songs that spread through the crowd and prompted unanimous finger and foot tapping.

During some songs, Skipping Girl also attracted several hardcore dancers who were determined to ‘shake what their mamma’s gave them’ to the more energetic tracks. Unlike most lone dancers at live music, it seemed the moves displayed by these fans were not alcohol induced, but merely a result of the contagious spirit that Lang and crew evoked. This dedication was not overlooked by the band, who rewarded the woman responsible for initiating the dance floor shenanigans with a copy of their debut album ‘Sift The Noise’ at the close of their set.

(FL) Chris Helm, (FR) Sare Lang

Skipping Girl treated the crowd to two separate sets, and closed the first by thanking the audience for allowing them to trial some of their slower songs, with Lang admitting that there is never usually the opportunity to showcase that side of their music to its full extent. Promising to ‘cook it up’ during the second half, SGV then indulged captivated fans by presenting a large platter of homemade biscuits baked by Amanthi (keys) the previous evening. Whilst bird-shaped confectionary was reduced to crumbs in a matter of seconds by their appreciative consumers, the bandmates worked through the crowd during a brief five minute interval and were more than happy to make conversation.

By the time SGV returned to the stage, the crowd were evidently eager for more and welcomed their hosts back with rapturous applause. Riding on the success of their sugary treats, the band were able to initiate a mass singalong to one of their catchier, more enthused offerings, with Lang (vocals) joking, “people… there are cookies involved!”

(L) Amanthi Lynch, (R) Mark Lang

After a quick lyrical lesson and melodic introduction, any initial shyness melted away as the crowd belted the chorus back towards the band with full force and enthusiasm. It was particularly entertaining on the tram back into the city post-gig to hear soft hummings of the melody floating down the carriages as fans struggled to get the tune out of their heads. Skipping Girl had obviously made a lasting impression.

The B-side to the band’s single ‘Sifting’ was particularly popular with the masses, and the standout lyric ‘coming up trumps again’ could easily be used in reference to the success of their Northcote appearance. Closing with the Triple J favourite ‘One Chance’, the band brought the room alive for the last time, and I failed to notice any person in the room who had not been completely caught up in the evening’s energy. Unlike the title of their closing track however, Skipping Girl proved that they are a band of substance, warmth and immense talent – wholly deserving of many more than one chance.