[Review] P!nk @ Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 23/02/2024
Melbourne is experiencing an exciting few months filled with major music events. Last week, the city hosted performances by Blink 182, Taylor Swift, and Matchbox Twenty, and this week the momentum continues with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy, and the much-loved Suzi Quatro gearing up for the Red Hot Summer Tour in March.
The start of a P!nk concert feels like the rush of zooming down a roller coaster’s steep drop. It’s a thrilling and wild journey, where you find yourself catching your breath in anticipation..
In other words: Just. Hang. On.
On her Summer Carnival stadium tour’s Friday night show, P!nk delivered a mesmerizing performance amidst a backdrop of colorful neon flamingos, oversized mirror balls, and whimsical flying bananas, all complemented by her signature, breathtaking circus-inspired acts. Now at 44, P!nk has mentioned in recent interviews, feeling at the pinnacle of her fitness, which was evident in her dynamic bungee cord stunts during the vibrant kickoff with Get the Party Started, intertwined with a hint of the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), and the lively Raise Your Glass, highlighting her incredible energy and agility.
P!nk’s ability to deliver both vocally and visually, even while performing complex aerial maneuvers, surpasses that of many artists who perform with both feet on the ground. My plus one, who has a lifetime background in theater and was experiencing a P!nk concert for the first time, was completely amazed. It was quite a sight to see her experience her first P!nk concert; it reminded me of the excitement of discovering something wonderful for the first time. The way P!nk manages her vocals while engaging in spins and flips was truly remarkable.
P!nk took a moment to reminisce about her initial performance at Marvel Stadium, known back then as Telstra Dome, in 2002 during the Rumba festival, where she shared the stage with Bon Jovi, Shaggy, and Australian acts Natalie Imbruglia and Bachelor Girl. There seemed to be a few loyalists in the crowd who were there as-well! Even when simply standing at the microphone for Who Knew, dressed in a glittering, silver outfit with matching ankle boots, P!nk’s performance was as powerful and confident as ever, her voice as strong as her physical presence. It was about here she spied a gift held aloft by a fan who clearly knew her weakness. TIM TAMS !!! But wait…. “Are these new” Alecia exclaimed?! “They are blue?!….. DOUBLE COATED!!!! Can they still be used to drink coffee through?” The crowd answered as only a 40thousand crowd can, much to Alecia’s delight.
Armed with a strong selection of tracks from her latest album Trustfall, P!nk faced the challenging task of integrating new songs with classics from her 23-year repertoire. The setlist she crafted managed to encompass the breadth of her career, featuring anthems like Try, with its powerful chorus ideal for stadium singalongs, the emotive and dance-heavy What About Us, and the uplifting F*!king Perfect. A standout moment was Just Like Fire, which was seamlessly blended with Benatar’s Heartbreaker, creating an energetic fusion highlighted by Justin Derrico’s electrifying guitar performance.
In a captivating moment, the youngest dancer of the troupe, Madelyne Spang, took center stage with a beautifully haunting dance during the spoken introduction of Turbulence. P!nk then emerged, offering words of encouragement to Madelyne, reminding her to breathe. Following this tender exchange, P!nk joined veteran dancer Khasan Brailsford at the top of the catwalk for an impressive solo aerial performance, which then evolved into a thrilling aerial duet.
P!nk also found room in her set for a few cover songs, delivering a unique take on Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love, inspired by Adele’s version, performed on the piano. Later on, she included a rendition of the 4 Non Blondes hit What’s Up? adding her own flair to these classic tracks.
In a quieter segment of the concert, P!nk shared the stage with her 12-year-old daughter, Willow, for a touching performance of Cover Me in Sunshine, a track they released together in 2021. Following this, P!nk took a moment to sit at the edge of the catwalk alongside guitarist Justin Derrico for a series of more intimate performances. The acoustic rendition of Don’t Let Me Get Me particularly resonated with me, stirring emotions deep within my 50-year-old heart. The albums M!ssundaztood from 2001 and Can’t Take Me Home from 2000 remain my cherished favorites. P!nk’s talent for conveying deep emotion through her music was profoundly evident in the poignant ballad When I Get There, a heartfelt tribute to her late father.
However, it wasn’t long before the energy shifted back to vibrant pop rhythms with I Am Here. P!nk chose to perform this piece barefoot, declaring it the only way to truly connect with the song. She likened the experience to being a dolphin, suggesting the importance of letting worries slide off effortlessly, just as water does off a dolphin’s back. Of course, P!nk couldn’t stay away from the adrenalized pull of something acrobatic. She joined some of her dancers for a unified routine during Trustfall while other members of her pack blissfully flipped on a trampoline behind her. P!nk joined them at the top of the setup, watching their “trust falls” onto the coiled canvas. P!nk’s remarkable qualities, such as her endurance, authenticity, and rich, powerful voice, are all worthy of praise. However, the greatest gift she offers during her concerts is the freedom to truly enjoy oneself.
In a dazzling display during her So What performance, the singer, covered in a shimmering outfit, took the concert experience to new heights—quite literally. She was secured in a harness connected to wires, which allowed her to execute a series of spectacular aerial flips across the expanse of the stadium. Hovering above the awe-struck crowd of almost 40,000+ fans, she belted out the defiant lyrics, “So what, I’m still a rock star,” with unmatched energy and charisma. This moment wasn’t just a highlight of the show; it was a vivid declaration of her unstoppable spirit and undeniable status as a rock star. Her ability to blend vocal prowess with daring acrobatics in front of a massive audience not only captivated everyone present but also solidified her reputation as an exceptional performer, truly living up to the title of a rock star in every sense.
P!nk plays again tonight in Melbourne with tickets still available at https://www.livenation.com.au/artist-p-nk-348049.
Before setting off to Adelaide, and Perth before heading back for encore shows at Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. And finishing off this incredible tour in Townsville on 22nd and 23rd March.
[Review] Harry Styles @ Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 24/02/2023
Melbourne was awash with Harry Styles mania as this postponed, rescheduled and pandemic interrupted Love On Tour show finally made it to our Aussie shores. Marvel Stadium was host to this phenomenon and if you missed the memo, you could easily think Marvel was holding the world’s biggest hen’s night! There was feather boas and sequins for miles as every man, woman and their dog donned a cowboy hat (preferably pink) and hightailed it to get a piece of Harry fandom.
The merch room, yes it had its own room, was pumping with long lines for those who didn’t take advantage of the cheeky opening a day before showtime. But needless to say, it was a very popular place and undoubtedly the weekly wage of many will be done and dusted. As I took my seat in Harry’s House it was a spectacle to behold, with over 50,000 people filling Marvel Stadium to the rafters. No mean feat and to think it was only night one!
Opening the nights proceedings was British indie outfit Wet Leg. Relatively new to the scene, forming in 2019, they have raced to fame and have a massive following in their own right. They gave us a forty-minute set with plenty to like. Bring In Love, Wet Dream, Angelica to name a few, finishing out with their debut single Chaise Lounge. They were warmly received and thoroughly enjoyed by the packed house, founding members Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers quite mesmerising bringing the boho feels to a warm Friday night. I am sure they will have gained a new Australian following after their fab performance.
Preshow songs started pumping from the PA and the crowd was instantly up and about, and when Bohemian Rhapsody rang out the phone torches were out and the stadium sang in one voice, adrenaline and nervous excitement radiating from every corner, and to think the show had not yet begun. There was a quiet lull for just a moment as the entire mass took a collective breath and launched into what would be almost two hours of non-stop rollercoaster ride that is Harry Styles. Opening with Music for A Sushi Restaurant the screams were ear piercing, the venue exploding in long pent-up emotions and love for their idol as he took centre stage. His sparkly striped polo and leather pants setting the scene amongst his enormous stage set up, complete with huge screens to give eyes to the people in the back bedrooms. A flood lit runway brought Harry up close to the fans and he used it all night, reading signs and catching almost everything that was thrown his way, hats, balls and boas included.
Golden, Adore You, Keep Driving bringing out all the feels, as Harry weaved his magic working through all his hits keeping the fans captivated every step of the way. Daylight, Woman and then one that is very special to Harry, Matilda. Instantly Marvel lit up with phone torches setting a stunning backdrop as Harry sung from the catwalk stage. A feeling of love overwhelming as the whole stadium harmonised along. A stunning scene and one that will stick with me for a long while. Harry was very gracious to his fans, taking time to banter and chat, helping one girl to come out after reading her sign, and singing happy birthday to another. Those little things that mean the world and are literally a life changing moment for them. Nice one Harry, what an all-round great guy!
Smashing through hit after hit, Little Freak, Satellite and Cinema the crowd here hungry for more and Harry delivered song after glorious song. Treat People With Kindness a lovely addition and really what the night was about, loving everyone no matter who you are, where you come from, your sexuality or your ethnicity. None of that matters, just love openly, acceptingly and be kind to one another. There was no better way to bring the love to the room than with a One Direction favourite and boy did Marvel erupt as the opening chords of What Makes You Beautiful rang out. Everyone’s inner tween bursting out with pride singing next level loud, such a fun song that has stood the test of time and was quite the nostalgia trip for many.
With Harry’s disclaimer that he would not being doing a shoey nor would he ever do it again, it came down to Pauli Lovejoy his percussionist, who happily jumped in and took one for the team. Cheers ringing out as he downed the tainted bevy, clearly not enjoying the experience at all but giving the fans what they wanted. Speaking of the band, they are absolutely fabulous, it is hard to give them your full attention when Harry is upfront, but they are super tight and sounded amazing. Kudos to you all, you kept the night running like clockwork and we cannot thank you enough.
Then a public service announcement from Harry, it’s time to dance and its ok if you haven’t been doing it so far, but now is the time as he launches into Late Night Talking and then the mega hit Watermelon Sugar High. Love Of My Life seeing out the set but of course we knew there were a few mega hits still to come so we sat tight and started the chants and foot stomping to draw Harry back to centre stage.
Harry returned to mind bending screams but took it down just a notch as Sign Of The Times played out, it was sublime and I was momentarily breathless as Marvel lit up, voices united singing this spectacular song as one. The Aussie flag making an appearance several time over the course of the night, Harry draping it around his shoulders, so grateful to his fans, thank you’s coming on autopilot. Clearly overwhelmed by all the love in the room, Harry at one stage stated, “I feel Emotional”. If there is one thing us Aussies can do it is turn up to a party, and I had a feeling we were just about to flip the lid on Marvel Stadium. As the familiar intro to As It Was rang out the fans exploded to life again, singing voices primed just for this moment, and while the show could have ended right there I was hoping for just once little green fruit to pop up to see out the show. Queue Kiwi, and if Marvel had a roof, it would have been raised, the energy was off the charts, the fans overloaded with Harry not wanting the night to end. But nothing can last forever and exhausted, drained of every last bit of energy we lovingly waved goodbye but I am sure many will be back to do it all again tomorrow night.
Tonight’s Love On Tour show was an easy one to sum up, we didn’t just get the Watermelon or the Kiwi we got the whole damn fruit bowl and it was a glorious healthy feast for the mind, body and spirit! Thank you, Harry Styles, for bringing the love and uniting thousands in their pursuit of acceptance and happiness, it was monumental show and one I was so happy to be part of.
You can still catch Harry Styles' Love On Tour at the below dates:
Tuesday, 28th February – Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast QLD
Friday, 3rd March – Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW
Saturday, 4th March – Accor Stadium, Sydney NSW
Tickets available at Live Nation Australia
[Review] Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 07/02/2023
Having been to many gigs of bands from various genres, I’ve found myself noticing the fans as much as I pay attention to the musicians. Different artists tend to attract different age demographics and usually the fans of the band will also mirror the fashion sense and general style of their idols. Today, however, was an exception. There was no one-word generic description that applied to the congregation gathered at Marvel Stadium. Everybody was here, and the reason for that, is that everybody loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Post Malone was a special guest on this tour with the Peppers and many of the fans had turned up early to ensure that they wouldn’t be late for his set. It was a performance jam packed with some of the biggest hits of his career, including songs like Better Now, I Fall Apart, Rockstar and Sunflower. Post Malone performs with so much passion and intensity and you can feel the love from his audience. After every song he takes the time to reiterate how much he appreciates the support from his fans and from the response you can clearly see that the feeling is mutual.
During an acoustic performance of Stay he invited a lucky fan to join him on stage to play the guitar while he sang. In true blue Aussie fashion, Post Malone even took the time to do a “shoey” which won him even more of the crowd’s approval. His fans love his music but I think they love him even more because of how much he cares for them and makes them feel special.
Fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been waiting for well over a decade for the reunion of the band and guitarist John Frusciante. The funky monks were back together again, and I was lucky enough to be among the fans that witnessed their return. John Frusciante, Flea and Chad Smith strode out on stage and immediately went into one of their signature improvised jams that they are well-renown for. The chemistry and artistry were incredible to see live. Constantly feeding off each other, they conversed musically while building the tension for what was to come next. As the jam came to its apex, Chad Smith signaled the transition with a roll on his snare and Anthony Kiedis and the band entered seamlessly into Can’t Stop and following that up with Universally Speaking.
Many years ago I watched a live DVD of the Peppers performing at Slane Castle. That show is one of the single greatest live performances I have ever seen and all these years later watching them, it was as if the years that passed have had no effect on them. They sang, they played, they danced with the same joy as someone who had discovered music for the first time.
I could write endlessly about how impressive each member of the Peppers are but it is truly so captivating when they play together that I was undoubtedly awestruck. Four separate musicians who almost appear to connect with each other on a telepathic level. Playing with a level of virtuosity usually only seen by jazz veterans, and yet they find a way to deliver it so that their music is instantly accessible by anyone.
Crowd favourites, Californication and By The Way drew some of the most raucous responses of the night and I felt the floor of the stadium quake as tens of thousands of fans danced the night away. Just as our fluttering hearts felt like they could take no more, the Red Hot Chili Peppers returned to the stage for an encore and rewarded us with Under The Bridge and Give It Away. This was much more than a gig, it was a tick-it-off-the-bucket-list event. I never imagined the day would come when I would get to see the Peppers with this line up and now that I have, I’m still pinching myself as I reminisce.
There is an old joke about jazz music; it says that a jazz band is a group of musicians who are enjoying themselves more than the audience. In the case of the Peppers, we the fans clearly enjoy bearing witness to their artistry – yet I have a strange feeling that somehow they still might be having a better time than all of us. After all these years they still exude so much joy in playing their music with each other. This is the reason they started a band. This is the reason I fell in love with playing music. And that my friends, is nothing short of pure magic.
You can still catch Red Hot Chili Peppers one more time in Melbourne before they head off to Perth for the final show of this tour.
Thursday 9th Feb 2023 @ Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Sunday 12th Feb 2023 @ Optus Stadium, Perth
Tickets available here
