Romy Vager at Northcote Social Club

23 January 2026 in Melbourne, supported by Milly Strange and NoTurns.

This was one of those shows that leaves one wondering where music is wandering off to. Or wandering back to.

First band NoTurns is a five-piece playing earnest songwritery rock not dissimilar to Lynyrd Skynyrd. That last part is just as confusing to me as it is for you. It's baffling to me that a creative and grotty music scene such as Melbourne's is producing classic rock.

Regular readers will know this is not the first time I have felt this way. I feel like I'm living at a time where, on the one hand, technology is moving faster than I am comfortable with, and on the other hand, those things that are regressing are going back to the last thing I would've expected.

(Not unrelated, today I am thinking of picking up a (physical) copy of the Melways which is up to its 50th edition this year.)

The other funny thing that struck me about NoTurns was that, while one of the two vocalists was talking to the audience between songs, the keys player would tickle the ivories not unlike the way musicians accompany preachers at those evangelical megachurches. I suppose it did add a sense of drama and anticipation.

Next up was Milly Strange and her five-piece band. Again this was very singer-songwriter focused music, kind of like a mash-up of Mazzy Star, Fleetwood Mac and Kristin Hersh.

I was surprised to learn that it was their drummer's first show with the band because the music felt driven by the drums in a way that I don't really have words for, but that I like.

Finally it was time for Romy Vager. She is playing new songs post-RVG that are more folky and no doubt easier on the ol' vocal cords.

I enjoyed this a lot. Musically the songs are pretty straightforward (which better explains the support acts) but she can't help but bring spikiness and tension in to make things compelling. Even without pushing her voice to cracking.

There was also levity, with discussion of Nicolas Cage's pyramid tomb and Harrison Ford in The Fugitive (but not Bladerunner). It's a shame that my friend Joy who loves Nicolas Cage will never hear Romy Vager's pyramid tomb song, because Joy doesn't like guitar-based music. Ah well.

I especially like when Romy Vager uses repetition in her songs, it works so well. I suppose she can't really do that in every song though, which is a shame. Maybe just one that combines ecstatic repetition with a really long intro. That would hit the spot for me.

I'm not sure when Romy Vager is releasing her solo album but I am officially interested.