Amy Shark has amassed a large fanbase in the past few years demonstrated by Rod Laver Arena being at full capacity tonight. Fans had been patiently waiting for Amy Shark return to Melbourne since the announcement of her Cry Forever tour in late 2020.
In the flood of lights and smoke, Amy strolled onstage to a huge applause. She took in the moment before opening with “The Wolves”. After a brief pause, her hit song “Everybody Rise” got the crowd to their feet.
With a three piece band, she effortlessly covered her catalog of songs from her two albums. She provided backstories to some of her songs and amusing anecdotes, such as describing the importance of happiness before singing “C’mon”, “The Idiot” being a song about her ex-boyfriend, to being a local tourism advisor getting thousands of messages on social media asking the best places to park and eat before her show.
There was plenty of dynamics in her set, stripping the music back to just her acoustic for “You’ll Never Meet Anyone Like Me Again”, to the band’s pumping rendition of The Killers “Mr Brightside”, acknowledging her fan’s support from the early days at the Corner Hotel to tonight’s arena show.
Amy demonstrated her musicality with an intricate acoustic fingerpicking
start to “Psycho” leading to an energetic outro that had the crowd on their feet.
During the breakdown of “Mess you up”, she asks the crowd “Have I messed you up Melbourne?” before leaning into the final chorus and a rain of sparks showers the stage.
As the stage lights dim, the dramatic Jaws soundtrack plays through PA before the percussive guitar skanking of “Baby Steps” steps up the energy of the show with a dazzling light display.
It was time to get to where it began with “Adore”. The crowd were on their feet singing along and surging to the front of stage ending with a rapturous applause.
Unfortunately Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban weren’t present for their contribution to “Love Songs Ain’t For Us”, but the atmosphere was there as phone torches lit up the arena.
As Amy launches into her final song “I said Hi”, she acknowledges the huge support she has had and anyone who likes her music is a very special type of person. Tonight was a celebration of live music returning on a grander scale.
