On Nov. 13, a crowd of fans lined up outside the Royale Nightclub on Tremont Street. Albeit a little shivery in the cold, the general mood was one of eager anticipation as the clock ticked toward the 7 p.m. door opening of the Angus and Julia Stone concert. 
The Australian siblings began their foray into music at a young age, with a musician father who fostered their talent early on. While originally performing back-up for one another at local shows, the brother and sister eventually showcased themselves as a single act in order to share billing credits. Their first EP “Chocolate and Cigarettes” was released shortly before their 2006 move to London in hopes of furthering their career. It was in Great Britain where they came into contact with Fran Healy, head of the band Travis. They recorded their second EP “Heart Full of Wine” in Healy’s house.
Their debut album was released in 2007 by Flock Music, dubbed “A Book Like This.” It reached the top ten charts in the siblings’ native Australia, adding to the hype that already surrounded them at home and in London. In 2009, album number two, “Down The Way” was released, taking the number one slot in Australian charts and garnering five ARIA music awards, one of which was the prestigious Album of the Year.
After a brief stint pursuing solo careers, the siblings reunited for their namesake third release, “Angus & Julia Stone,” another chart topper. Their most recent album came out earlier this year, prompting their current tour. Thus far, it is the only album to feature tracks that they wrote together—collaborative territory they had not yet breached. 
Needless to say, the classification of the duo as “dreamy indie pop” paired with folk is accurate. The opening act, British singer/songwriter Luke Sital-Singh, set the tone for an intimate, romantic show. Sital-Singh’s performance was one of excellent guitar work and vocal artistry. The artist apologized lightheartedly, admitting his songs to be a bit melancholy. Nevertheless, the young Brit did a lovely job of engaging the crowd and warming them up for the feature performance.
The siblings took the stage around 9 p.m., with four bandmates and a variety of instruments, including guitars, banjos, and, in Julia Stone’s case, a trumpet. The opening song, the title track from their fourth and most recent album “Snow,” began with raw guitar and left the crowd rapt with attention. Background simulations of Siberian forests, colorful kaleidoscope-like tribal clips, and a full red moon only served to complement the atmosphere.
Following their second number, the duo introduced themselves; the lilt of their Australian accents made them ever more endearing to the fans. Overall, the night’s line-up consisted of a wide assortment of their work, with lyrics written by each of the siblings. Many a soft love song was sung—perhaps the most notable ones being the well known “For You,” written by Julia Stone in the wake of a heartbreak, and “Nothing Else” off of “Snow.” Their most renowned song, “Big Jet Plane,” received enthusiastic participation from the crowd, as did one of the encore: the popular “Soldier.”
As someone who has attended many a concert, I have to say that Angus and Julia Stone made for a positively ethereal Monday evening and a great start to the week. Although I thoroughly enjoy very active concerts involving high energy audiences and crowd surfing, the Australian duo put on a show that made it easy to want to sway and sing along. All in all, the siblings are off to a fantastic start in the United States leg of their world tour.