James Blunt, Pierce Brothers @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 25/11/2024
Chart topping international super star James Blunt has undertaken his biggest Australian tour to date even going close to selling out the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Armed with new album Who We Used To Be and a kit bag full of witty charm and good humour there would have been few that would have walked away disappointed even if they were dragged a long in sufferance (a reference to the husbands and boyfriends).
Live wires the Pierce Brothers (Jack and Patrick) got things off to an electric start setting the tone and vibe with their unique brand of music combining the elements of folk, blues, roots and a splash of rock making it a fascinating listen. Their set might have been sort but they more than made up for it just on sheer energy, intensity and excitement alone. Looking a little overawed seeing so many people in the arena early they pulled out all stops and judging by the line at the merch stand they won over plenty of hearts and minds. Studio was a cracking opener featuring Jack on the didgeridoo was super cool followed by the equally impressive Genevieve.
Full of gratitude for being there early they motored along with “It’s Alright” with the crowd clapping along to the beat. Amsterdam was stellar and I’m surprised Jack “lightning” Pierce didn’t pull a hamstring taking off at breakneck speed from the front to back and back on stage completing the routine with a dive roll. They way they were able to swap between instruments at ease showed a level of versatility that many other bands don’t have. Even being short of breath you would hardly know on Bottle then finishing their energetic set on Golden Times.
Believe it or not it has been six years between tours for James Blunt and with an even bigger following this time round there was a sense of anticipation heightened by the heart rate monitor on screen that started beating faster closer to his entrance. With a touch of nostalgia on screen with a variety of photos of Blunt it didn’t take long for him to whip the already excitable crowd in to a frenzy getting them to stand up out of their seats for Beside You followed by the popular Wisemen. The focus might have been on the new album but all corners of his illustrious back catalogue were covered. Each song seemed to have its own personality with lighting projections complementing each one brilliantly.
James Blunt is quite the entertainer and his sense of humour resonated with the faithful asking if they wanted to hear the old stuff or the new stuff jokingly saying “it doesn’t matter I’ve got your fucking money I can play whatever I like”. The humour didn’t end there either saying he bought new jeans to make the night all the more “special”. Carry You Home was great and was followed by new tunes All The Love That I Ever Needed and Dark Thought. Say what you will, this was a really good performance and his new album shows an artist that continues to evolve.
Asking the crowd if they liked miserable songs and apologising to the men folk dragged along by their wives and girlfriends telling them to “strap in for the next three hours”. He also spoke about wanting to be a rock star but to be in a band you need friends! Dark Thought was lyrically powerful and a poignant tribute to late actress and friend Carrie Fisher. Goodbye My Lover was a major highlight and after The Girl That Never Was Blunt said that we were almost out of the miserable section.
Moments don’t get any bigger than High encouraging the ladies to sing-a-long and getting the crowd involved with the Mexican wave which would be the last thing you would expect to see at a James Blunt show. Love Under Pressure and Postcards were great moments. Slade cover Coz I Love You was well done and Blunt took off and did a lap around the crowd (probably not quite as quick as Jack “lightning” Pierce.
Back To Bedlam classic You’re Beautiful proved popular and the room was lit up with mobile phone lights on Same Mistake saying to the blokes that lights on will make him play faster “saving your battery for the taxi after”. The main set ended on Stay The Night and Ok. Returning for an encore Blunt said “we’ll finish as we began with a miserable song” playing an emotive song about his father in Monsters topping off a solid Monday night on Bonfire Heart and 1973 promising to return next year.
Live Review By Rob Lyon