Lyric’s Underground, Thursday, April 23, 2026
We’re at Lyrics Underground going down to the basement to get out of the rain. This Killing Frost hosted a warm night of stripped-back songwriters that suited the low-lit setting. It’s great to see so much variety in Perth/Boorloo — we just can’t stop discovering new music.
Opening the evening was Chris Mason, with help from fellow Lunettes alumni Kerry Fletcher. While Fletcher held the rhythm on her acoustic, Mason was free to play a bit looser with his hollow body guitar, and the combination worked well. The songwriting carries a heaviness you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a semi-acoustic duo; the songs would work well with a full indie-rock band. The hooks were unusual, but wrap themselves around you and lock in.
Elk Bell up next, and she was not afraid to open up and lay herself bare through the music, singing personal songs about loves lost and other battles. The fact she’s not afraid to tell you all the gritty details makes it all the more poignant.
The singer/songwriter was able to entertain with the music and add plenty of interesting insights in between. She has a couple of strong album releases under her belt, with another on the way. After seeing her play the latest songs live, we’re keen to hear the next chapter.
Onto the hosts, and the basement setting was perfect for This Killing Frost. Dressed all in black, with Julian Bolleter on piano and Andrew Ewing singing, the pair were engrossing to watch. There are shades of Nick Cave or the likes of Antony, but the sound goes further than any direct comparisons. The piano melodies get very cinematic, and the lyrics follow suit, moving between love songs about secret crushes and grander themes (if love isn’t the grandest).
Conquer and Divide is a perfect example — the piano sounding almost exorcist-like before Ewing croons about a relationship fading. From a literal beginning (“I think maybe it’s over, we’ve done our 10 years”), the lyrics ascend to gods and iconography like the tower of Babel (communication, that usually gets relationships). The music is intelligent but isn’t afraid to twist and play with its themes.
Special mention to the between-set music, which kept the mood right throughout. A strong showcase of songwriting talent, and one that more than delivered.
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