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Naked talent set for greater fame

Alisa Zayalith. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

CONCERT
The Naked and Famous
4 stars
The Astor Theatre
Sunday, May 11

REVIEW ANNI FORDHAM

Those lucky enough to attend the Naked and Famous' first headline show in Perth on Sunday witnessed a well- kept secret about to be blown wide open.

Openers Vancouver Sleep Clinic were far from sleepy, with the Brisbane teenagers gathering admirers with their silky-smooth falsetto and electro beats.

The Naked and Famous relished having the Astor Theatre stage all to themselves after a run of Groovin the Moo festival shows, kicking off with the jangly and pulsating Stillness from 2013 release In Rolling Waves.

The Kiwi electro-rock darlings breezed through an almost two-hour set with absolute precision, also plucking a handful of songs from debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You.

Keyboardist Alisa Xayalith and guitarist Thom Powers shone equally on vocals, backed by a weighty mix of bass, synth and drums. The five-piece have the intensity and power of a musical freight train, skilfully balanced with dreamy harmonies and the odd acoustic guitar.

In the space of two albums, the Naked and Famous have crafted an impressive collection of songs with instantly recognisable hooks, which had even the most nonchalant concertgoers jumping with glee.

Punching in a Dream turned the theatre into a mosh-pit, and audience members mimicked Xayalith's wave-like hand gesture while adding a few hundred extra voices to the oh-so-singable chorus of In Rolling Waves.

The band's sometimes thunderous sound threatened to blow the roof off the Astor, which almost seemed too small. It's safe to assume they'll be selling out much bigger venues in the not-too-distant future.

The secret is out.