Xhalisse launches new music, outfit and energy in Geraldton

Geraldton muso Sarah O’Malley knows her way around melancholy lyrics and delicate guitar parts. But last weekend, she showed off a new grungy and textured musical persona, dropping new music and reintroducing Xhalisse as a full band. Earlier this month, O’Malley told me Profit Moon, the new Xhalisse EP, would be bigger, heavier and more energetic than her previous work. Well, I think she’s hit the nail on the head. With the help of drummer Conal Savins, guitarist Dave Jackson, and back-up vocalist and synth player Alida Wright, the singer-songwriter’s music has reached a new maturity while staying true to the essence of her sound. The music seemed influenced by 1990s-era alternative rock, with the guitar riff in Ghost Heart even pushing the sound in an alt-metal direction. The show had headliner energy — confident and edgy. Tomorrow night, Xhalisse will open for The Waifs, and, if the band put on a show anything like last weekend’s, they will be sure to turn some heads. Aptly, Elyce Brook and Nicky Robson opened the night with what they described as “angry girl music”. Both women have powerful voices that felt pulled from the pits of their stomachs, dragging me into the orbit of their heavy and emotional music. A wide variety of music comes out of this Mid West city but the more shows I go to, the more I come to see strong female vocal leads and heart-wrenching lyrics are a noteworthy part of the Geraldton sound. In between the two acts, Inflatable Cactus broke through the tension, picking up the room’s mood with some sweet indie tunes. I heard a whisper it was their first time playing together as a band. If that’s true, then colour me mighty impressed.