Guy Sebastian captivated fans both young and old last night with his Madness Tour at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Hand made signs and shouted declarations of love were in abundance, fuelling the excited atmosphere.
Guy showed his true colours in greeting the crowd of “Radelaide”, saying with feeling “It’s so good to be home… I don’t want to divide the room, but go the Crows.”
His down to earth, conversational style and unabashed humour fast won over the audience. He did not rush through the set list, rather taking time to explain the inspiration behind many of his songs. “Madness” comes from the struggle of juggling his work with family life. The heart-wrenching story behind “Imagine the Sunrise” comes from Guy’s charity work – an overheard conversation between a father and daughter, who imagined the sunrise together in her hospital room.
Guy’s R&B infused baritone washed over the Centre as he sang offerings from his latest album – “Light and Shade” and “Linger”. He also invited opening act and budding diva Fatai back on stage for a powerful duet of “Lightning”. Later in the show he returned to his Australian Idol roots with “Angels Brought Me Here” and “All I Need is You”. New life was infused in the songs by his full band, including three talented backup singers and an energetic brass section.
The crowd was treated to a rich though sometimes overwhelming production, with the entire stage constructed from LED screens. Some of the displays were so vivid and bright that they should have carried a warning for any epileptics in the audience. During the second half of the show, as Guy performed a medley of his earliest hits, nostalgic music videos played on the screens behind him. His swift dance moves would be at home in any trendy nightclub, and were perfectly complimented by his backup dancers.
Fatai exuded charisma during her thirty-minute set, gaining attention as people searched for their seats. Her set list was somewhat confusing. She began with improvised rap and a cover of Rihanna’s “Diamonds”, followed by her soulful originals “Concrete Love” and “Purple”. Despite this, her youthful talent shone through.
Guy Sebastian concludes his Madness Tour in Perth this Saturday, 28th February.
Review by Nicola Woolford.
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