Pix by Angie New
Words by Matt New
Renowned for blending musical genres that don’t typically coalesce, Chelsea Wolfe is a rare and unique offering in today’s music landscape. With a career spanning almost two decades, the Sacramento-based singer-songwriter is somewhat of a stranger to touring Australia, having only performed here twice before this current run of shows. After releasing one of the best albums of 2024, and one of her strongest albums to date, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, the anticipation among so many devoted fans was infectious.
The Metro Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s CBD was the perfect choice for this particular show due to its intimate and moody atmosphere. Always a great sounding room with barely any poor vantage points to absorb a performance, the room was surprisingly packed out long before the opening act was scheduled to play. Truly a testament to the loyal support of Sydney music fans who continue to defy the odds in a city where live music venues continue to diminish. Shows in Sydney have more of a gathering vibe these days, rather than feeling like an event with a transactional nature. It was encouraging to see so many people interacting freely, living in the moment.
Supporting Chelsea Wolfe was Melbourne-based solo artist and producer APHIR. A relatively late addition to the tour, APHIR’s blend of dark electronic timbres mixed with ambient ethereal melodies made her a complimentary choice to the headliner. Handling all vocal, keyboard, and sampling duties in her performance was incredibly endearing. She seemed both nervous and excited by the occasion, presenting a timid yet gentle personality that was intriguing and alluring. Her vocals were heavily drowned out in the mix of the opening track of her set, something that I was unsure was technical or performance-based at the time. That being said, after a few tracks, she became audible, and you could enjoy all the beautiful elements this fine vocalist has to offer.
APHIR‘s music was impressive and hypnotic, with her choice to rely solely on electronic instrumentation for her soundscapes giving a haunting yet weirdly beautiful overtone. Connected literally and figuratively to the technologies creating her music also gave a futuristic, almost dystopian vibe. It was also clear that the influence of artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Massive Attack was evident in her music, making it seem familiar yet unique at the same time. APHIR also shared a story of how an accidental electrocution by her gear inspired songs like Pomegranate Tree, highlighting this artist’s awkward but likeable persona. Overall, she did a solid job and was entertaining.
By the time Chelsea Wolfe and her band walked onto the stage, the venue was packed from wall to wall. The diversity among the crowd highlighted Chelsea’s ability to branch across rock, folk, and electronica. This unifying factor in her music gives a sense of acceptance and a cult-like status. The set started with Whispers In The Echo Chamber, and the haunting drones instantly complemented Chelsea Wolfe’s sombre soprano voice. She showcased her vocal range by soaring above the music in an eerie fashion. The band’s entrance was powerful and pristine, sounding different from the raw energy of the recording. It was at that moment I knew this show was going to be something special.
The production of the show, visually and aurally, was flawless. The lighting, in particular, was captivating. The combination of lights and smoke machines created some amazing visual effects, including the illusion of a portal opening during songs like Tunnel Lights. It was truly breathtaking, as it seemed Chelsea was being transported to an alternate dimension. Although Chelsea Wolfe may not be the most energetic performer, a lot of emphasis of her performance has a clear focus with attention to every little detail. Her ghostly presence is strangely seductive, as her music charms you with its dark energy. Musically, every note she sang and every note that the band played was absolute perfection.
Her set was carefully constructed to showcase music from various albums, like reading chapters in a novel. After a rousing reception to the opening four tracks from her most recent release, she proceeded into several tracks from 2017’s Hiss Spun, arguably her most revered body of work.
An album that features many prolific musicians across rock and metal’s wide tapestry, including the likes of Troy Van Leeuwan (Queens of the Stone Age), Kurt Ballou (Converge), and Aaron Turner (ISIS), to name a few. Her ability to collaborate with such a wide array of artists is something that makes her incredibly respected in the music community. The Culling, for me, was the highlight of the whole show. This song is the perfect embodiment of all of Chelsea Wolfe’s stylistic visions. Dark and doomy, ethereal and haunting, the track summonses you from your comfort zone and paralyses you with its gloomy beauty.
Although Chelsea is promoted as a solo artist, she has always featured an incredible ensemble of musicians. Featuring longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm on bass and keyboards, Jess Gowrie on drums, and Brian Tulao on guitar, the band provided so much dimension sonically to Chelsea’s unique vocal styling. Dynamically, they were incredibly adaptive and responsive to the vast nature of Chelsea’s music that weaves between light and shade so perfectly. We have to give credit to Chelsea here, as her style has been the platform for so many recent female musicians who craft a gentle, ethereal vocal over a dark and gloomy accompaniment. As a more recent fan of her music, it is incredibly refreshing to hear these stylistic choices.
Chelsea progressed back into material from She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, performing tracks such as Unseen World and Eyes Like Nightshade. A personal favourite, Dusk, was especially poignant, as again the combination of the incredible blue visual backdrop and the calming swoon of the song’s flow was ominously peaceful. Another key takeaway from why Chelsea Wolfe’s art form is so popular is how incredibly powerful her poetic lyrics are. They are very deep and emotive, but cut with a sense of honesty and delicacy. So much so, when she sings these carefully crafted lyrics, it feels as if she is singing directly to you with incredible focus and personability.
Chelsea Wolfe concluded her epic set with some acoustic renditions of Flatlands and The Liminal (Unbound), which were a very soothing way to bring an emotionally charged evening to a close. Her final gift to her beloved fans was an encore consisting of Carrion Flowers and Pale On Pale, which instilled a sense of reflection and closure.
The performance was monumentally captivating and entertained beyond the realms of what the average show has to offer. Chelsea Wolfe and her band were the complete package that had the entire Metro Theatre audience engaged for every note, of every moment, in every song. She juxtaposed so perfectly raw pain and fragility with healing, hope and defiance. Highly memorable and completely satisfied by the experience of finally getting to see this amazing artist showcase her unique craft live, this will go down as one of the best shows so far of 2025!
