Kim Wilde @ The Gov, Adelaide 24/10/2024
Adelaide went wild for Kim Wilde!
This was a dynamite show! Plenty of sizzle! Plenty of pop!
Kim Wilde return to Adelaide for her first tour in eight years and the fact that this show had been sold out months in advance is a testament to a stellar career packed full of hits that still resonate stronger than ever before. Not resting of the strength of her back catalogue either she is still being creative introducing a new single in to the set ahead of her new album set for release in January. Nevertheless, this show was all about the greatest hits and a a celebration of a wonderful career full of nostalgia, memories and good times.
The Gov was full to the brim and those who were close to the front were marking territory and not giving up their spot even if their life depended on it. It was maximum Thursday night good time vibes and a real excitable energy as Kim Wilde and band took to the stage. Wow! Kim Wilde looked and sounded awesome. There was talk that she had not been feeling well going for the “sweeties” to look after her voice but with the way she performed you would hardly know it. The ultimate professional. Trademark swagger with her dark wraparound sunglasses, tight jeans, heeled boots, the sequinned leather jacket, the torsolette… hot! Very hot!
Kim’s band were elite and the rock edge on some of these great songs was brilliant. Opening with Rage To Love Kim said it was great to be back before bowling over Never Trust A Stranger and Water On Glass. The crowd literally went in to hyper-drive from the get go and the way Kim powered through these songs was incredible to watch. Can’t Get Enough (Of Your Love) was great and the Kim took a moment to welcome all the “Kim Wilde newbies” and for one lucky ten year old fan Lucy this will be a night that she will never forget and her comment after “did your mum drag you a long tonight? ” to which Lucy replied “no, my Dad did” brought the house down. Kim acknowledge the energy of the audience asking everyone to sing a long if they recognised any of them. Music has the ability to take you back to a point in time and with some of her songs I can remember what happened when I heard those songs for the first time both good, bad and indifferent.
For the die hard fans Words Fell Down would have been a treasured moment and the Second Time had an awesome segue in to the M’s Pop Muszik adding to the nostalgic feel of the show. Bee Gees cover given the Kim Wilde work over I Can’t Have You went down a treat before bringing down the tempo “before we hit full speed and you won’t know what hit you”. The next three from 1998’s Close were gold with Four Letter Word, Love In The Natural Way and Yours ’til The End complete the trilogy. Ironic that the new album is called Closer and new single Trail Of Destruction was a ripper! If that is a nod to the new album get excited. Introducing the band including her brother Ricky (a huge part of her music and the affinity they have built writing pop songs) and her niece Scarlett (on backing vocals) saying we are all family and that “we need our team” extending that further by saying that Scarlett would be marrying an Aussie next year… all the more reason to come back for another tour.
A couple more gems in Love Is Holy and Stone proved popular before “stepping back to the 80s” with Cambodia and taking an even “bigger step to the 80s” adding wouldn’t that be great to go back to then pulling out all stops with View From A Bridge, Chequered Love and the hit she made her own in You Keep Me Hangin’ On. The atmosphere is fever pitch and it was hard not be to be swept up in the euphoria of this show. Absolutely incredible…
Returning for an encore Kim was sporting a glittery cape and captain’s hat (lucky ten year old Lucy down front got an awesome keep sake) said “absolutely love you guys” affirming that she isn’t going anywhere thanking everyone and hoping everyone will continue to be a long for the ride in anticipation of new album Closer in January. Dedicating You Came to the fans it was the anthemic Kids In America which got hips shaking and the crowd singing to wrap up a wonderful evening.
Live Review By Rob Lyon