King Woman – Dark Mofo – Gig Review 17th June @ The Odeon Theatre, Hobart TAS
King Woman
The Odeon Theatre, Hobart TAS
Saturday 17th June 2023
"Celestial blues
A mile in my shoes
The devil left a bruise
But God left a light on for Her wayward ones
Left under a fountainhead for dead
Casting out the spirit of death
Under Her breast
She says, 'Take my hand'
Let's go to the land
But my life is no longer mine once I recite
Shrill noises from a crypt."
This is the opening poem for Kris Esfandiari, also known as King Woman’s title-track from her sophomore album Celestial Blues released in 2021. On this frozen evening, these exact words were hauntingly uttered with such gloom-driven radiance, that it felt like this showcase had been transported to the West End Theatre in London and those in attendance were experiencing an enrapturing passage from the play The Woman In Black.
This was until the titanic thunderclap of doom metal approximately 45 seconds into this introduction awoke all within Odeon Theatre - Ms Esfandiari had exposed her troubled past with seizures and her strict Christian upbringing with this verse, a tormented insight that almost reads as fiction but the tale is, a dark reality. We were reminded that this wasn’t a theatrical performance per se, it had this dimension intertwined assuredly; however, this was a concert and an exquisite exhibition not to be forgotten.
With a musical recipe which immaculately takes notes of PJ Harvey, Tom Waits and Chelsea Wolfe (namely Abyss [2015] and Hiss Spun [2017]) yet this only just scratches the surface; there is a delightful drone and charisma with King Woman's artistic entirety in presentation, she doesn't just perform under the name, she becomes this identity. The gothic and dark undertones are magically spirit lifting for those who witness it, case-in-point the ethereal sludge whirr of ‘Utopia’ dizzied this elation remarkably, which then found a harmonious clarity with ‘Golgotha’.
Wondrously a marriage proposal occurred during the performance with the sparkling grace of Kris’ assistance; although this article might not reveal this aura distinctly, the songstress does have a sense of entrancing romance with her compositions and what a memory the happy couple now has.
‘Burn’ was enigmatic, as if Nick Cave had collaborated with Wax Idols on their post-punk reverie ‘A Violent Transgression’. This was incredibly intensified by its sequel ‘Boghz’ with spine-chilling roars and wails from Kris and its impossible loud/quiet dynamic. ‘Manna’ provided a rest for the wonderfully wicked with its slow-burning opacity that eventually became a wildfire in the schizophrenic ‘Entwined’.
‘Coil’ acted as the rocky introduction to the finale which was the delightfully devastating ‘Morning Star’. The artist known as King Woman often interacts with her audience and embraces them, for this closer though, she immersed herself with all of her kindred spirits.
After what felt like an eternity, an encore was presented being a cover of The Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adored’. Truthfully, this felt like a thank you gift from Kris Esfandiari for allowing her into our lives. Please know Ms Esfandiari - the thanks undeniably comes from us for sharing your stories on this night, we can also “feel the joy in everything”.
With Dark Mofo now finished for yet another year, the long wait begins until the next reiteration, so let us vacate to our tombs in high anticipation...
Review by Will Oakeshott @TeenWolfWill
