[GIG REVIEW] RICKI-LEE, UPSTAIRS AT THE BERESFORD, SYDNEY

photo and credits courtesy of Eva Rinaldi

Last night we had the privilege of catching the svelte Ricki-Lee performing Upstairs At The Beresford, here in Sydney. The show saw the 26 year-old return to the stage for her first official ticketing gig since 2008.

Kicking off with her platinum-selling hit "Can't Touch It," Miss Coulter belted out the track and moved almost effortlessly on stage alongside her two back-up dancers and accompanying band. Clearly a crowd pleaser and the perfect song choice to start the night off, Ricki-Lee then merged straight into her debut single from 2005, "Hell No!"

Taking time out to welcome the crowd (which was a sell-out show mind you), The Voice Australia mentor got straight into the first of one of her new tracks due to appear on her upcoming third studio album "Fear and Freedom." "Burn It Down," which had it's premiere on Channel Seven's Sunrise last week, proved a favourite from the crowd as they grooved and moved - somehow already knowing the lyrics to the track!

Ricki-Lee used this advantage to jump straight into two additional new tracks, "Bombshell" and "Never Let Go." Both fared fairly well with the crowd, especially "Bombshell" (although it could have had something to do with the fact the broad explained it was affectionately about 'fucking').

Old hits "Sunshine" and "Love Is All Around" followed, with a medley of the late Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" mashed into the latter track. Post these, the new face of Covergirl Australia jumped straight into the new tracks "I Feel Love" and "On The Floor." "I Feel Love" was definitely our highlight amongst the new material with it's euphoric chorus and uplifting beats. We can't wait to hear the studio version of the track - it's a definite winner!

Ricki-Lee then turned the tables and launched into a sex-fuelled cover of Ginuwine's 1996 hit "Pony." Post this she an led with an acoustic opening to the lead single from the "Fear and Freedom" era, "Raining Diamonds." Informing the crowd that the lyrics were inspired/written to remind us all that we deserve nothing but the best, the ex-Australian Idol contestant had the floor captured as she kicked off the empowering anthem. Before too long, the acoustic melody broke out into a full-thumping dance routine and the screaming fans (ahem, mostly gay men) were off like it was Mardi Gras.

Before we bid farewell to the talented star, Ricki-Lee announced we had one more new song to get through which was going to be the next single from the upcoming album - the track "Crazy."Much like the new songs we'd already heard that night, it was a blazing dance-filled pop track that should gain further chart and radio momentum.

As expected, Ricki-Lee capped off the hour long performance with her latest single "Do It Like That." If we'd though we'd seen a pretty intense crowd reaction to her previous hits performed, we were wrong. As the pop star, still looking gorgeous on stage we must add, worked it out with her #NoPantsBrigade, the energy in the room increased ten-fold. Fans were screaming, bodies were jumping, and gay men were grinding to the one of the hottest pop tracks we've heard this year - what an excellent finish to the show.

Overall, it was great to see Ricki-Lee back on stage. Performing a good mix of old and upcoming hits, it was the perfect blend to capture fans and certainly create interest in her new album. Well done girl!

"Do It Like That" is available today, with "Fear and Freedom" available from August 17 [iTunes]

[GIG REVIEW] KYLIE MINOGUE'S ANTI TOUR, SYDNEY MARCH 20

Getting me to review a concert by someone that I completely idolise is like asking a five year-old to tell you all about his favourite candy - you're never going to hear anything critical, there'll be lots of smiles and giggles, and overall you'll walk away thinking you want a piece of that delicious piece of candy. For me, attending Kylie Minogue's much-anticipated Anti Tour in Sydney yesterday was a lot like that.

After hearing some pretty rave reviews about how the Australian pop goddess owned it at her two most recent gigs in Melbourne, the anticipation building inside was almost too much to handle leading up to the Sydney gig. What's worse was that we had tickets to the second show, so whilst I was reading everyones Facebook and Twitter messages as they entered Luna Park's Big Top, I was still at home trying to compose myself by watching fat people cry on Biggest Loser Singles.

Now, I'd like to think of myself a pretty straight-acting homosexual (I hate that term, really); but there is something about Miss Minogue that turns me into one of the campest queens in the world. Whether it's the inherent gay gene that activates it's pink DNA when I think/see/hear the talented wonder, or whether I'm just emanating every other gay man, I can't help it. Unfortunately, mainly for my partner, last night was no exception.

After finally getting to Luna Park and having to wait in queues with a variety of gay men and 30-something women, we were permitted to enter the Big Top. As the queens and fag-hags pushed and shoved their way into the hall I found myself inches away from the front standing in the general admission area (ok, so it was about four-person deep - same, same). Screaming, crying and shaking I was totally ready. Although, it was only 9:45pm and the Aphrodite wasn't due to 11:15pm. Oh dear.

Let's fast-forward to when Minogue arrived, as you don't want to hear me bitch and moan about the crusty old queens in front of me that clearly had too much - too much "to consume" and too much "work on their face" that is.

Minogue kicked off with the "X" bonus track "Magnetic Electric," closely followed by the "Je Ne Se Pourqois" b-side "Made in Heaven." Both tracks sent the crowd into a sort of frenzy that I'm sure could have been heard from Sydney's Opera House across the harbour. Hearing "Made in Heaven" was pure bliss - the PWL pop oozing out of the performance like it was 1988 all over again.

Video: "Magnetic Electric" / "Made in Heaven"

Moving forward the dancing diva performed the "Wow" b-side "Cherry Bomb," to which she claimed many fans had requested the track be on the setlist. It was evident she was right by the almost-deafening scream of the queen beside me - honey, calm the f**k down already, we're three songs into the performance. "BPM" (the "I Believe In You" b-side) was a welcome track which slotted in quite nicely afterwards.

Video: "Cherry Bomb"

One of Aphrodite's best tracks was on next, the bonus "Mighty Rivers" - yay! Definitely one of my personal favourites from this era which Minogue seemed to enjoy thoroughly as she grooved away on stage watching all her screaming fans go ballistic at her entire existence.

Video: "Mighty Rivers"

Stepping back in time, which is almost what we did as our girl teased us with the chorus of her 1989 hit "Step Back in Time," Minogue then delivered "Over Dreaming (Over You)" and "Always Find The Time." There was just something about these performances that invoked childhood memories of dancing to my idol, half naked, using my mother's hairbrush as a microphone. Clearly I'm not alone here, right?

"Tightrope" and "Paper Dolls" followed from the "Lights Years" and "Fever" eras respectively, with Kylie then introducing a track she'd written in her 'darker days' - "Stars" (from "X"). Whilst "X" always frustrated me as an album, it was surprising to see how many fans really engaged in this performance.

Video: "Paper Dolls"

On came the lasers and down went the lights for the next part of the production with the Impossible Princess performing "Drunk" and "Say Hey" - two great performances that made me feel like I stuck back in some dirty club somewhere in the late nineties... and I don't think I was alone. Whether it be the tracks, the lack of air-conditioning (it was freakin' hot in there!) or just the ambiance of the gig - these tracks absolutely shone.

Video: "Drunk"

Bringing back the disco pop Minogue introduced the Jake Spears and Calvin Harris collaboration "Too Much" (after her plug of the new Scissor Sisters upcoming album, of course); which was then followed by the "Light Years" tracks "Bittersweet Goodbye" ('a farewell to a good friend' said Minogue) and "Disco Down."

"I Don't Need Anyone" was next, followed by Minogue's third Australian number one single "Got To Be Certain." I was surprised to hear the track considering we were avoiding 'all hits', but none the less again I was thrown back to the 80s and my love for Kylie as a kid. It didn't help either when the "Rhythm of Love" track "Things Can Only Get Better" came on!

All of a sudden (well, not really - but time flies when you're having fun, right?) the show came to an end and Minogue proceeded to leave thanking us all for coming along. The end? Surely not? More? Give me more! Alas, true to tradition in any concert, Minogue returned for an encore (which to this day, I still don't know why they bother leaving and coming back - we all know that they're going to come back - what a waste of time. Sing more already).

The Melbourne girl performed "That's Why They Write Love Songs," followed by the single (another?) taken from The Delinquents soundtrack "Tears On My Pillow," and closed with the PWL masterpiece and title of Minogue's sophomore album "Enjoy Yourself." What a performance!

As Minogue and her cast of talented musicians bowed and received the gratitude and thanks they deserved, a shower of gold and silver glitter rained from the ceiling of the Big Top. What more of a fitting way to end a truly spectacular performance by one of Australia's biggest and most successful exports, and of course, my idol.

Right now, I'm still high from the performance last night. You would struggle, anywhere in the world, to find an artist that would perform such a show for their true fans. No big production, fancy choreography, dramatic costumes or over-the-top stage productions - just a talented pop star giving back to her fans by performing some of her lesser-known yet equally-fabulous b-sides, rarities and album tracks.

Kylie Minogue, what an epic show.