Angus & Julia Stone, Julia Stone, et Angus Stone

Protracted by solo careers which were largely overshadowed by their joint efforts, sibling folk/indie rock sweethearts Angus and Julia Stone have once again reunited with work on a forthcoming album and a European festival tour circuit this summer. Her breathy vocals mixed with his smoky tones meant early success for the Australian duo, with their 2007 debut album A Book Like This having been a critical success. A few albums later, and the siblings decided to go their separate ways– that is, until super producer Rick Rubin decided they’d be better off together. And so here they are, working on their next album, together.
Their indie folk eccentricity emerges whole-heartedly onstage, with a mix of guitars, keyboards and even Julia’s surprising trumpeting skills, giving a unique instrumental mix to the traditionally acoustic sounds typical of generic folk rock. Julia undoubtedly brings the on-stage energy that Angus lacks, her voice’s unrelenting twang and honest interjections adding inadvertent optimism while he stands stoic, hiding behind his long hair and thick beard.
Their most recent showcases demonstrate more of a disjointed connection between the pair than before their mysterious hiatus, although their musicality seems more aligned than ever, surely the result of having co-written an album as a pair. No longer a double-billed act, Angus and Julia Stone are finally transforming into a duo, although you’re almost guaranteed to get a taste of their solo efforts in their live gigs.

I got to see Angus and Julia Stone live at the Trianon with my mother. Very classy joint. Everything was lit in a soft gold color, and the place was BEAUTIFUL. We all cheered the second she came out on stage. She walked to the piano, and played softly, then sang with the most angelic voice.

You could feel the emotion in her as she sang, cutting right through you, and the piano was soft and touching. Slowly, some more other instrumentals snuck in, contrasting with what she was playing. The nuance and emotion in her voice was brought out by the music.

Eventually the guitarist came out on stage with her. The lighting started to get interesting, purples and yellows all mixed. The audience sat in silence, in awe of her talent. This was not a jump up and down dancing and screaming concert. It was romantic and touching and unique.

I hope to god this woman becomes more popular and does more concerts. I don't think my life would be complete if I never got to see her live again. I'm going to keep an eye on this girl, and I suggest you too. She is absolutely phenomenal.

His solo career never quite took off as well as he’d hoped after abruptly splitting from a double billed act with sister Julia Stone, but Angus Stone has managed to accumulate a surprising amount of musical variety for his live performances.
With only two solo albums under his belt– Smoking Gun in 2009, released under the pseudonym Lady of the Sunshine, and Broken Brights in 2012– Angus Stone’s solo performances are anything but, complete with a full band while occasionally interspersed with reflective, individual acoustic performances.
The majority of his live gigs are decidedly folk, with hits like the self-titled debut Broken Brights and the whistle and clap happy Wooden Chair, but a strong rock influence while writing his last album bring in a mellow seventies rock feel to songs like End of the World and Bird on the Buffalo.
Big sister Julia was always the one to do the talking, so interjections between tracks are usually timid, although he’ll frequently share personal stories behind the song-writing that transform his on-stage nonchalance into musical passion.
He’s taken a break from his solo career, or better yet, has returned from a break as part of the Angus and Julia Stone duo, to tour the festival circuit in Europe with his sister this summer. Fear not though, as you’re almost guaranteed some Angus Stone solos during their set.