LIVE REVIEW: SLAYYYTER + 2CHARM @ THE FORTITUDE VALLEY MUSIC HALL 14/08/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

Slayyyter is a musician for our times. There is something amazing about seeing a musician who is on the precipice of superstardom. As she touched down to deliver her ‘Wor$t Girl In The World’ tourin Australia, she is cementing herself into the lexicon of rock music driven by her ‘wild heavy rock force’ and a passionate fanbase. The energy was huge and the roar of ardent love for Slayyyter at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall was immense.

The crowd were dressed for a night of dancing, kicking on, to clubs and cute Instagram photos. Everyone looked on point tonight as the Fort swelled to capacity to see pop music’s disruptor.

But before the main event, the evening started with the self-described “techno sleaze g00ner pop” of 2Charm. The electronic duo comprises of Tim Nelson and Sam Netterfield (of Cub Sport). The Fort, already packed, had 2Charm deliver to the crowd, a very gay dance-pop set full of choreographed dance moves. The set started like we were in a Berlin nightclub as the songs ‘No Pressure’ and ‘Paris’ were delivered in the bright white flashing lights and deep red lighting. When ‘Prerogative’, ‘Chateau’ and ‘Barcelona’ were played, the place was jumping to the beats and pure pop that sounded like a cross between the Pet Shop Boys and Erasure with an aesthetic look of singlets, leather pants and sunglasses while the duo performed body pump aerobic moves.

2Charm’s dance-pop set was full of songs from their debut album ‘Star Scum City’ along with choreographed aerobic dance moves that got wilder with bear runs, planks and boxing moves. Then, 2Charm stripped down to footy shorts, Ugg boots, and fluffy hats. They performed ‘Invisible Wings’, ‘Arc De Triomphe’ and new song ‘Make A Wish’. The songs were all delivered with an abundance of kissing and sweaty shirtlessness aligned with great pop melodies.

The duo then delivered ‘Girls’, which pleased the young women in the crowd. The song ‘Making Out’, produced by Ninajirachi, was delivered to a huge roar from the crowd. Then, 2Charm finished their impressively fun set with their breakout song ‘Boyfriend’ and the venue was officially warmed up. The heat coming off the floor was impressive as the fans had broken out.

During the break between 2Charm and Slayyyter, a playlist of Slayyyter’s favourite songs wasdelivered. It was the most unusual mix of Southern American Gothic folk and country songs. References were made to Robert Johnson, as his music was played and the statement being made was a bold attempt at linking of her into this tradition. I guess I should also cover her name and stage name. Slayyyter is Catherine Grace Garner. She took her stage name from the perpetually stoned character Ron Slater in Richard Linklater’s classic cult film ‘Dazed And Confused’. The name was originally styled simply as ‘Slater’, it eventually became ‘Slayyyter’.

There was a wait as lights moved around behind a black curtain. Curtains covering the Fort’s stage are quite rare, but when it dropped, it revealed a fog filled house stage setup as ‘Prayer’ was delivered by Slayyyter. Her musicians (drummer Mike Robinson, bass and keys Cody Valentini and guitarist Dan Graham) took to the stage to handle the heavy-hitting, industrial-pop and punk-inflected arrangements. The musicianship was astonishing! Then, Slayyyter walked out of the house’s front door in her ‘Wor$t Girl In Australia’ cap to perform ‘Dance’ with the most incredible lighting I have seen at the Fort.

It was a wild start and the crowd in the Fort went out of their collective minds: the bouncing, the roar and the sing-along were set at over 11. Slayyyter barely allowed the room to settle. She did stop to talk to the crowd and let people know that she had caught the flu in Australia and was unwell: “but I’ll be damned if I don’t do this show” as she asked the crowd to help out with the singing. And, they did! From this point, the concert unfolded across three acts.

The fabulous song ‘Old Technology’ was delivered next and this was what the crowd was getting: an in-your-face heavy rock set with added extras like bubbles and the rap in ‘Broke Bitch Free$tyle’ before the place went off with ‘Crank’ and ‘Crank 2’. These two songs are the nouveau modern party anthems that send the crowd into disarray. The opening act is almost confrontational in its aggression, pace and delivery as each song folded into the next before the crowd had time to recover. There was no restraint.

It was time for a change in tone and costume. The sexy rhinestoned outfit in red, white and blue was donned for ‘Cannibalism’ and ‘Yes Goddd’. The vintage carousel horse was used as Slayyyter took on the more nuanced songs from her album such as the superb ‘Gas Station’, ‘Old Fling$’ and ‘Unknown Loverz’ to deliver the confrontational emotional punch of heartbreak, jealousy and romantic paranoia, before ‘I Think He’s Got A Girl’ closed out the melodrama. The band played and amazing ending, demonstrating their fine musical skills. Slayyyter’s backing band were brilliant.

There was another short break and another costume change to a more feminine look, which brought in the opening chords for ‘I’m Actually Kinda Famous’ and it was at this point I realised the set was almost over as the acerbic sing-along went into overdrive. The big songs of ‘$t.Loser’ and the huge delivery of ‘What Is It Like, To Be Liked’ came on like a steam train with added bubbles. Then, the best song from her album ‘Wor$t Girl In America’ was performed with style and swagger in ‘Brittany Murphy’.

Then, it was over! Slayyyter and her band left the stage and the crowd were not having it. The chant for Slayyyter started and just got louder, and the roar when she came back out on stage was ear shattering and amazing.

She closed out her set with the new 90s-inflected techno ‘Brand New Chanel$” and finished with her defining gut punch of a song, ‘Beat Up Chanels$’, as the bubble machines went into overtime. The Fort shook again from the crowd bouncing during the electric performance.

This was a masterclass performance from Slayyyter and her band. She let everyone know that her “10-year overnight success” is no fluke. She has watch musicians’ half as talented leapfrogged her in the public consciousness, but no more. If you came to this gig as a superfan, or if you came as curious (great that you scored a ticket), you left this concert knowing that Slayyyter is the Queen and she is taking her crown back. It was impressive!

Slayed!