Killing Heidi, Siobhan Cotchin, Hassall @ The Gov, Adelaide 20/6/2025
What a start to the tour with Killing Heidi kicking off their twenty-fifth celebrations of their debut album Reflector right here in Adelaide at The Gov. It was a case of good luck trying to get a ticket being sold out well in advance and with a wait list a mile long arguably they probably could have sold out two shows with the demand as strong as what it is. For most fans they would have followed this much loved band right from the get go when they were broken nationally on Triple J and commercial radio right around the country in a big way. Like any band they have experienced the ups, the downs and the in-betweens but this night was very much focused on celebrating twenty five years of Reflector. Even now, it still stacks up with the best of them and continues to build a legacy that won’t tarnish any time soon.
It was a stacked line up with some great supports showcasing some fantastic up and coming talent who are set for bigger things down the line. Opening proceedings was Victorian singer-songwriter Hassall who has some great tunes in the kit bag. The bio nails the description of Hassall’s music by saying “stirring together addictive countrysoulsex-esque vocals, taboo topics & lyrics relatable in the way you don’t want to admit.” Definitely one to keep an eye out on for sure.
Siobhan Cotchin is a fearless performer who looked right at home in front of a sold out crowd at The Gov. There was a certain raw honesty and energy topped with a dash of relatability with her music that won the hearts and minds of new fans. Openly saying these are “songs about my feelings, I should go to a therapist.” There were plenty of great songs in there including the likes of Fill My Cup, The Truth Always Comes Out and I’m Not Finished Yet. Whether it was about “shitty friends” or “dating is a hellscape” it was a job well done more than warming the stage.
The one thing you know about Killing Heidi is that they leave nothing on the table throwing everything in to their performance. Not even some sound issues early was going to derail this performance. The mood was festive and celebratory and being a Friday night with a excitable crowd made it one of those experiences to be in awe of. Whilst there were no surprises as far as the set list goes playing Reflector start to end they attacked with enthusiasm and gusto. Emerging to a heroes like welcome Jesse Hooper stated “Twenty Five Fucking Years!” Right from the outset opening with two of the biggest hits in Mascara and Weir seemed odd as they are usually played at the end but what a way to start and lift the energy levels in the room.
It really isn’t until you hear a classic album like this played this way start to end where you can truly appreciate how great an album it is. The band went hard early and even Ella said “I’m determined to give you the full Reflector experience even it kills me… which it just might!” Even third song in Superman/Supergirl was massive and still plenty more good time moments to come. Described as a “family connection album” that “makes you feel old, makes you feel young, makes you feel weird” there plenty of smiles all round. Leave Me Alone, You Don’t Know, A Jar Labelled Small and Class Celebrities all had their own charm and were great to hear live. There was even a click-a-long in Live Without It followed by set staple Real People and one of the song’s they play the least in Jon’s Song. Ella’s t-shirt had the words “Boring and Old,” something we can identify and relate to, adding that after set closer Black Sheep to join them for “a cup of tea and a lay down”.
Even Jesse said that “we’re not coming all this way to not play a few more bangers” barnstorming their way through Calm Down followed by another big one in Heavensent which is their one and only love song dedicated to those in love and on a date night. Hard to believe that we were right at the end finishing on Ella’s favourite I Am bringing a fantastic show to an end. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and was great to be able to celebrate twenty five years of this iconic and much loved album.
Live Review By Rob Lyon