I unfortunately have to open with apologies…Perth traffic plus a (very) early start meant this reviewer didn’t get to see the opening act Germein. By all reports they brought the girl power evening to a solid opening & the Adelaide three-piece group got things off with a bang!
Opening her set with the determined announcement that she is here with her super power to “Pollenate with love”, Toni Childs tells us all “we’re starting with the old stuff and then we’re moving to the new stuff”. And so with that cleared up she begins her set with her 1991 Australian hit ‘I’ve Got to Go Now’ . Sitting centre stage, surrounded by her five-piece band, emotively singing the song whilst casually taking off her shoes sets the scene for what’s to come.
‘Stop Your Fussin” is up next, co-written with David Ricketts, the single hales from Child’s debut album ‘Union’, the song keeps you moving & your foot tapping with the African-influenced percussion rhythmically backing the lyrics.
Dancing across stage bare foot, she closes out ‘the old stuff’ with one of her best known songs ‘Don’t Walk Away’. “Are you ready?” Toni teases as she announces we’re moving onto “the new stuff”. New it certainly is, taking on a totally different vibe for the second half of the set.
‘Lift’ cements that new feel and brings with it a fresh sound, a sound that follows through to ‘I Believe in You’. Toni offered a unique experience to fans tonight whilst moving through the crowd singing energetically, she singles out individuals whilst highlighting her powerful lyrics, “I see you, you are beautiful, you are gorgeous” . With everyone up on their feet singing along, Toni glides back onto stage, welcomes her band to join her and take a bow. Tonight, she declared she was going to use her super power, and she did. Using the warmth and depth of her voice we moved tonight from abuse to empowerment.
As the lights in the stadium plunge, the opening chords of “What it Feels Like” begin, onstage runs a vibrant Natalie Imbruglia joined by her 4-piece band, standing out in her bright blue dress the Australian native sings solidly from her latest album “Firebird’.
Exclaiming her excitement to be in Perth & to play alongside The Corrs she takes us right back to the Britpop era of the 90s with “Wishing I Was There” from her 1997 studio album ‘Left of the middle’ . Reminding us all why we love her music: her voice. Her voice has that familiarity to it that encourages you to move along to and join in.
Moving back to more recent releases including ‘Wrong Impression’ and ‘Shiver’, Natalie gives us more from ‘Firebird’ declaring a summer vibe song & encouraging the crowd to clap along.
Returning back to the 90s and on immediate announcement of “going wayy back to the first album” as the crowd immediately reacts she’s quick to declare “not that one! not yet!” instead we got treated to ‘Leave Me Alone’, with it’s haunting spoken chorus. It was a night of musical treats as we got a new song that’s not released yet which is being teased to audiences whilst they tour the country and beyond to New Zealand.
Coming to a close on her set brings the long awaited Ednaswap cover, “Torn” . Whilst it may be a cover, it’s a song Natalie has her stamp on, achieving her a Grammy nomination, two ARIA music awards, an MTV Europe Music Award & a Billboard Music award. Not something to be brushed over. With pockets of dancers springing up across the crowd & Natalie encouraging the crowd to singalong the atmosphere is gearing up and with joyful screams over the opening bars of another from her hit album ‘Left of the Middle’, we finish the set with the rockier ‘Big Mistake’. Tonight Perth have had a mix of 90s nostalgic angst and carefree brightness. You could almost say a glimpse into a reinvention of sorts.
The Corrs make their dramatic entrance on stage, with the help of striking cat walk like visuals on screen they immediately command the audience with the rising of the bodhran of “Erin Shore” that opens them into their 1997 hit “Only When I Sleep”.
After making a successful pitstop visit to Australia’s Hunter Valley last year, (their first Australian show in 21 years) The Corrs commence their full Australian tour at the RAC in Perth, with over 10,000 people looking forward to a night of Irish charm & pop rock the family from Dundalk are up to the task.
Made up of Andrea (vocals, tin whistle), Caroline (drums, percussion) and Jim (guitar, piano) & Sharon (violin, keyboards), and supported by Keith Duffy (bass) & Anthony Drennan (lead guitar) they move smoothly through tracks from their 1995 debut album ‘Forgiven, Not Forgotten’ to 2015’s ‘White Light’.
Fans of The Corrs would know of the affinity they have for Fleetwood Mac having first covered ‘Dreams’ back in 1998. Following Christine McVie sad passing in 2022, The Corrs have featured three songs recorded in tribute on their newly reissued (in expanded form) ‘Best of The Corrs’. With tonight showcasing ‘Dreams’ & ‘Little Lies’ it was a poignant touch and a moment that had the crowds enchanted.
Of course there was no shortage of Celtic influence tonight with the sounds of the violin, tin whistle & bodhran helping to weave their stories with the songs of the last twenty eight years, undeniably the sound of The Corrs is the infusion of traditional Celtic music with pop & rock.
Whilst Andrea’s vocals are undeniably delicious she takes deserved breather, as sisters Caroline & Sharon step forward to show off their vocals with a Jimmy MacCarthy cover of ‘No Frontiers’ & whilst we move straight back to the Irish influence with ‘Joy of Life’ we also get to see Caroline’s talents on the cajon. Her command over percussion is fantastic & definitely worth seeing!
Following their rendition of ‘Dreams’ we begin to bring a close to the night, with concert goers getting to their feet to dance along to ‘So Young’ & ‘I Never Loved You Anyway’ – and to the chants they begin the encore, with 10,000+ people expecting the hits we all know & love they didn’t disappoint, with ‘Runaway’ & ‘Breathless’ keeping everyone on their feet and singing along. We close the night with a final reel from the debut album ‘Forgiven, Not Forgotten’: ‘Toss the Feathers’.
Having sold over forty million albums worldwide & racked up twenty-four awards, The Corrs know what they’re doing & what they’re about. Cynics may say they showcase too much of their 90’s catalogue but, ultimately these are the songs that we all know & love and want to hear. To enjoy seeing them live after twenty-one years is a sheer treat.
The Corrs continue their tour across Australia with tickets available below. Thanks to Maric Media and One World Entertainment for the media access.
GALLERY by Linda Dunjey Photography
THE CORRS
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
GERMAIN
