Project Description

PLACEBO

@ Margaret Court Arena

08/09/17 (Live Review)

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We take our seats in the dark stadium of Margaret Court Arena as we are treated to a snap shot of the past 20 years in the form of short video footage accompanied by Every Me Every You blasting through the loud speakers, we can feel the excitement build, it is nostalgic and just a little bit sad like longing for a friend we have missed, the band has not been in our great country for over 10 years.

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Placebo

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The first sight of the band we get is Stefan Olsdal bathed in a bright spotlight, as our anticipation grows he is Joined by singer Brian Molko and kicks off into Pure Morning the first single of their second album, followed by Loud Like Love, Jesus’s Son and Soulmates, The intro to Special Needs changes the entire feel of the night, the sounds get heavy and the crowd gains even more enthusiasm feeling the vibe and pulsing to the beat basking in a low red light.

The visions in the background move from a black and white show of the band to a brilliantly coloured collage of the members melting into each other, reminding us of flashcards at a therapists office. They worked in more mind blowing songs such as Too Many Friends, Devil in the Details from, and even a beautiful tribute to David Bowie playing their 1998 collaboration Without You I’m Nothing, moving onto Special K and a fitting In the Bitter End.

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Placebo

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There is not much talking during the night by Molko aside from celebrating the quality of Australian doctors, we were all worried this concert would not go ahead, but he is in fine form, delivering those iconic vocals that have been cemented in our heads and skyrocketed Placebo’s career. The main conversationalist of the evening was Olsdal, stopping the show holding a rainbow guitar he had painted for a show in Russia, he asks for help, “I need something from you guys” ” I’m going to say a name, and I want you guys to say fuck you”  He starts to chant and we immediately join him. “Margaret Court fuck you” aiming squarely at her homophobic comments made earlier this year.

We asked for an Encore, And we got it. Infra-red and Nancy Boy and as a second encore, Kate Bush cover Running Up That Hill.

The sweet reminiscent show closes with a bright solo Molko on a dark stage thanking Melbourne and taking a bow, the lights come up and everybody sits in awe at the display they have seen, the sounds they have heard and the 20 year story they have been told.

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AMNPLIFY- DB

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