Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Sia and the Magic Cardboard Ride

Band: Sia with support from The Holidays
Date: 1st February 2011
Reviewed By: Espylyn

A hot and sweaty night preceded an outing at the Palais Theatre before a cool change blessed us, but I was not with too much hesitation in getting to the theatre because I was interested in seeing the flamboyant Sia in action in a large theatre and I was therefore expectation-less in how the night will unfold having not seen a solo show from her before.

The Holidays opened the show and gave us a bright and rocking set. A four piece Sydney band that showed a lot of front and a sound which was...well, a bit of everything (that is good) really. The crowd had pretty much filled up to watch the band and the age group was a little bit of older and a lot of younger audience.

Once the support finished a lot of people left to no doubt claim some fresh air and they flounced back about five minutes before Sia was to start and start she did in a rather eclectic ensemble that consisted of a large piece of cardboard which was painted black and strapped to her body (that was the similar size to her) and Sia was in all black, including painted skin, and a pink tu-tu. Yes, rather amusing and a rather fitting tribute to the show for the night. The stage was colourful with coloured lines aplenty all over the instruments, back drop and even the band wore clothing with coloured stripes. I had to give Sia points for creativity.

Adelaide's enchanting daughter didn't give in to the warm weather tonight, she provided flare, chatter and humour all night and a voice that didn't falter. Sia didn't leave her cardboard ensemble yet continued to sing with it strapped to her body for song after song. At one point she asked punters to yell out a few words to which she put together in a song much to the delight of those whose words were chosen (love, seven, spaghetti). The youthful crowd managed to stay in their seats for the night but when Clap Your Hands was sung it proved too much for a few and up they were. This song gave up the cardboard and in its place was fairy wings with a bubble machine on both sides and a fan behind her so the bubbles headed toward the punters, a rather effective result.

Sia thanked many people for being there tonight and she proved to be a singer that will have longevity in a field that can be so fought over and won by too few.

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