[Review] Take That @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 6/11/2024
The evening at Rod Laver Arena was a spectacle of lights, music, and sheer entertainment.
The audience’s anticipation could be felt as Sophie Ellis-Bextor, dressed like a dazzling disco ball, took the stage with her masked supporting band. The night started on a high note with her hit Crying at the Discotheque setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable performance.
Sophie’s charismatic personality shone through right from the beginning. After her opening number, she connected with the audience on a personal level, sharing a facetime call with her son Ray. She usually walked him to school in London, a routine she clearly cherished. This brief interlude added a layer of intimacy to the performance, making the audience feel like they were part of her world.
With the band now unveiled from their collection of animal masks, the energy only escalated. Sophie launched into another hit Music Gets the Best of Me, her vibrant persona fully engaging the crowd. Her infectious energy was palpable, and she effortlessly got the audience involved, encouraging them to sing along to Get Over You. The arena was alive with voices joining in, creating a sense of community and shared joy.
The musical journey continued with a seamless transition into a disco mashup. Classics like Lady (Hear Me Tonight),If This Ain’t Love, Can’t Fight This Feeling, and ABBA’s Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) had the crowd out of their seats. The arena turned into a massive dance floor, with fans singing, clapping, and disco-dancing the night away. The nostalgia and the lively beats transported everyone back to the golden era of disco.
Next on the setlist was a new song, Freedom of the Night. The performance was a visual treat, complete with an artistic ribbon display that added to the enchanting atmosphere. The audience took a brief moment to catch their breath, only to be swept up again with a cover of Madonna’s Like a Prayer. The familiar tune brought everyone back to their feet, and the energy in the room soared once more.
As the night drew closer to the main act, Sophie’s penultimate song, Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer), a 2009 collaboration with the Freemasons, kept the momentum going. The crowd’s excitement was tangible when Sophie asked if they were ready for Take That. The arena erupted into cheers, which grew even louder when the opening chords of her biggest hit, Murder on the Dance Floor filled the venue. The band donned their animal masks once more, bringing the vibrant, bubbly, and energetic opening act to a triumphant close.
Seven years after their last performance in Australia, Take That, now a trio led by lead singer and songwriter Gary Barlow, along with original members Mark Owen and Howard Donald, returned in triumphant fashion.
Entering from the top of the stairs to their 2008 release Greatest Day, the crowd was immediately on their feet, singing along upon Gary’s cue.
With Mark and Howard banging on their bass drums, they seamlessly moved on to Giants. Howard then took the lead vocals for Everything Changes, with Gary moving to the piano and Mark on acoustic guitar, expanding the six-piece backing band.
It was Marks turn to lead as he took over main vocal duties with their 10th number 1 hit, Shine. Gary returned to the lead vocals, accompanying himself on the piano for A Million Love Songs. His powerful and appreciative tone made it evident why he has been the lead vocalist from the very start.
The trio took the audience on a historical Take That musical journey, narrating their story through a medley of hits and earlier songs. Tracks like I Found Heaven, Pray, and the Bee Gees cover How Deep Is Your Love featured original dance moves that elicited screams from fans who had grown up with those iconic routines. The hits kept coming, and the crowd was grateful for both the nostalgic thrusts and the band’s history lesson.
Songs like Patience, The Flood, and Get Ready for It filled the middle of the set before the band moved into some new music with a track called Windows. The entertaining set, which had an air of musical theatre and cabaret, thrilled a wide range of fans, many of whom likely remembered their 1995 concert.
Increasing the energy with a disco portion of the show, in their bright white shimmering outfits, These Days and This Life were some of the crowd’s favourites. However, nothing matched the roar when they went onto their most famous song and only number one hit in the US, Back for Good. The audience sang in unison, their voices filling the arena with an almost palpable sense of nostalgia and joy.
With heartfelt thanks to the band, crew, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and the enthusiastic crowd, Take That finished off the evening with Rule the World to a phone-lit arena. The glow from thousands of screens created a starry canopy, under which the final notes of the night resonated, leaving fans with memories to cherish until the band’s next return to Australia shores however with the current record it may be awhile off yet.
