Critically-acclaimed James Blunt entertained his adoring fans (and their tag-along partners) with a show that spanned hits from his entire career
Presented by: Destroy All Lines & Smooth FM
Reviewed: 25 November, 2024
Australian James Blunt fans rejoiced as the British pop, R’n’B and folk rock hybrid songster returned to Australia and put on a show spanning a retrospective of hits from his many studio albums throughout the years.
It’s been a few years since Blunt has visited Australia and put on a show – six years in fact, and almost the same amount of time as since his released his last studio album Once Upon A Mind in 2019.
His current tour Who We Used To Be, is in support of his latest 2023 album of the same name, but is a bit of a retrospective show, spanning his musical musings from throughout his career. Blunt began the show with an upbeat banger that had the audience jumping out of their seats, choosing to start with dance-pop tune (perhaps a newer genre influence from his time living in party-island Ibiza) Beside You, the first single release from Who We Used To Be.
The show is a welcome mixture of new album songs and more mainstream pop-songs like Bonfire Heart and Stay The Night, plus deeper ballads, like tear-inducing Monsters, and, of course, his more soulful and slower-paced classics creating a show that provided something for every generation within the varied attending audience.
Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheers and love are for the revitalised performances of songs from the 2004 album that shot him to stardom – Back to Bedlam. Hits like You’re Beautiful, Wisemen, Goodbye My Lover and High were scattered out throughout the show and still drew the biggest cheers and sing-alongs from the audience, reinstating their secure spot on truly memorable musical moments throughout 2000’s pop.
Just like his interview style and online personality, Blunt’s famous dry English humour and self-deprecating quick wit provided many chuckles, paired with his fun on-stage dad energy, which included energetically cheering from the top of a piano and some charmingly goofy dance moves.
One disappointment was that when hit songs, whose world-wide fame came from Blunt’s unique breathy and higher pitched vocals, were played, Blunt didn’t sing all of those famous and much-loved lines that really only he can do, instead turning to the audience for them to sing. An audience takeover of choruses can be fun, but for those who were there to witness Blunt’s famously specific vocals perform the songs they love so fondly, this was a disappointment.
Supporting act the Pierce Brothers, an Australian folk, blues and rock brother duo brought incredible energy and enthusiasm for the crowd, with lightning-paced drum playing (paired with flair-filled hair tossing), quick-fingered guitar work and passion-filled vocals. Blunt couldn’t have asked for a better opening act to get the audience into an up-beat mood.
After a good-time energetic opener from Australian folk duo Pierce Brothers, critically-acclaimed James Blunt entertained his adoring fans (and their tag-along partners) with a show that spanned hits from his entire career, but with a focus on his newest album. Though some more of the famously unique Blunt vocals taking control of the well-known lyrics would have been gladly appreciated.
Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Photo credit: Aaron Leslie
Venue: Entertainment Centre Arena
Season: ended
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