PLACEBO

@ Qudos Bank Arena

09/09/17 (Live Review)

PLACEBO – Photo by Megan Carew

The first time I saw Placebo was back in 2001 at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney as part of their Black Market Music tour. Back then they already had 3 albums under their belt, a plethora of hit singles & were playing to big crowds all over the world. Black Market Music was a much darker record than their first two offerings and it emanated the steely confidence of a band that knew exactly what they were doing and where they wanted to go.

Fast forward to 2017 & Placebo are in Australia celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self titled debut album and are playing in even larger venues on a tour that has already spanned nearly a year. For a band that have been around for over two decades, founding members Brian Molko & Stefan Olsdal (who are now in their 40’s), have forged a symbiotic creative partnership over the years and this is reflected in their music. Unfortunately they had to cancel their first Australian show in Perth due to Molko being unwell, but he recovered in time for the Adelaide and Melbourne shows.

PLACEBO – Photo by Megan Carew

Walking out onto the floor of the Qudos Arena, the video for Every You Every Me (which was filmed in 1998 but then archived) started playing on the giant screen behind the stage. It was eerie hearing Molko‘s voice without him being present and I had a terrible feeling that another cancellation could be on the cards. Fortunately a few minutes later a clean cropped and rather dapper looking Molko walked onto the stage with a more casually dressed Olsdal in tow and the opening chords of Pure Morning rang out around the arena. A couple of their newer songs followed, including their last single Jesus’s Son that blended seamlessly into a stirring rendition of Soulmates from their 2003 album, Sleeping With Ghosts. Molko engaged in some playful banter in between songs with the audience, including reminiscing with a chuckle what it would be like to be 20 again.

The hits then came thick and fast from past and present and overall it sounded like the songs were slowed down slightly but that didn’t take the edge off of the excitement in the crowd. I could hear the sound of fan’s voices singing every word to each song with such passion that if felt more like a spiritual gathering of devoted followers than just a regular show. The visuals kicked up a notch during Devil In The Details with some kaleidoscopic live camera work turning the band into living Rorschach tests that were equally exhilarating & terrifying. On a more poignant note, the backing video for Without You I’m Nothing featured Placebo with David Bowie working on the track with the band, which Bowie also sang on when it was released as a single. His influence knows no bounds and even the indomitable Brian Molko looked awed in his presence.

PLACEBO – Photo by Megan Carew

On the home straight now, Molko & co. dug out some old gems in 36 Degrees and Special K, before launching into the ephemeral Song To Say Goodbye and a lacerating version of The Bitter End. Olsdal held his trademark rainbow bass triumphantly over his head at the end of the song and then the band left the stage. Encores are always tough when you have a repertoire like Placebo, but they came back with fan favourite Nancy Boy from their first album and it was met with rapturous appreciation. Without catching breath Molko launched into an ominous version of Infra-red with the audience screaming the chorus back at him – “I’m coming up on infra-red, there is no running that can hide you, ’cause I can see in the dark.” There was one song missing from the set, but that was soon remedied in the final encore. The slow burn heartbeat intro of Kate Bush‘s Running Up That Hill sent goosebumps up my arms and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. Placebo‘s version is a much more subdued affair and a perfect ending to a show by one of the most enduring bands to come out of the 90’s.