Tonight, the Lansdowne in Sydney pulses with the collective energy of WA-based artists. The evening kicks off with Malaika Mfalme, a Tanzanian/Australian artist whose debut album Yasmin chronicles the aftermath of profound loss. When they launch into “Imagine,” the room seems to shrink, the heartbreak almost tangible—it’s the kind of raw emotion that stops you in your tracks, leaving you breathless, caught in the intensity of their grief.
Then comes Boox Kid—Jarred Wall—a Noongar man who spins electro-pop into something electric, alive. His set crackles with energy, each track more thrilling than the last, the perfect foil to the intimacy of Malaika’s set. He’s the pulse of the night, creating a dynamic shift.
But it’s Alter Boy who take things to another level. The alt-pop group, made up of Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing members, is touring their debut album ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’, and from the moment they step on stage, there’s a sense that this isn’t just another gig. Molly Priest, the lead singer, is a force—otherworldly, magnetic. Their lyrics aren’t just sung but translated into Auslan by Luke Eastman, giving the performance a layered, immersive quality that most bands could only dream of achieving.
A lot’s been said about Alter Boy, and yeah, “mesmerising” gets tossed around frequently—but that word doesn’t quite capture it. Priest commands the space with their ethereal presence, backed by Andrew Wright’s keys, Josh Ellis’ rhythmic precision on drums, and Josh Terlick’s looming bass. The choreography of sound, light, and sign language feels like witnessing something far bigger than the venue itself. You leave knowing you’ve just caught a band on the brink of something massive, grateful for the chance to see them this close, this personal.
Stream HERE.
Alter Boy’s tour moves on to Newcastle next- tickets HERE.
ALTER BOY I DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
Sunday 6 October – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
Friday 11 October – Freo.Social, Fremantle
Saturday 12 October – The River, Margaret River
Friday 18 October – Valley Loft, Brisbane
Saturday 19 October – Vinnie’s Dive, Gold Coast
Stream ‘I don’t live here anymore’ HERE.
