Project Description
MAGGIE ROGERS
@ The Tivoli
30/05/19
(Live Review)
Reviewer: Alexandra Ainsworth
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There’s no denying that the lead up to Maggie Rogers’ first Brisbane show hasn’t been without its fair share of hype. The night has been a sold-out affair for weeks, so it’s no surprise that the queue around the Tivoli tightly hugs the street corner as punters happily brace the cold for a glimpse of what is arguably Maryland’s most exciting export. Having heard rave reviews from her Sydney Opera House show for Vivid, it’s hard not to perch expectations precariously high, but I remain relatively cautious of what tonight’s set will entail.
Rogers’ debut record, Heard It In A Past Life, slightly lacked the impact I so desperately wanted to hear from her. While it isn’t without a few clear standout moments, overall, the tracks tend to trickle into one another, eventually making listening a conscious effort. The Maggie Rogers on tonight’s stage, however, is so entirely enthralling and wholly commitment that I’d easily forgive anyone who thought they were from entirely different eras.
The 25-year-old walks on stage to the tune of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, dressed in all-white and draped with a sheer piece of blue fabric working as a makeshift cape—a look I come to learn is typical of Rogers’ live garb. The set starts immediately with the punchy energy of ‘Give A Little’, an almost ironic song title seeing that Rogers is physically giving quite a lot. There is near-constant movement on stage, with Rogers turning into a blur of a being as she whips around her band, twirling her cape around for both added drama and grace. The crowd is immediately impressed with their first taste of tonight’s offerings, making use of what space they have to mirror Maggie’s moves as best they can. Three minutes later and the opening track closes as quickly as it had started, but it offers a guarantee that tonight will undoubtedly be a good night.
The set rolls near immediately into songs two and three (Burning and Say It), and it’s clear that the energy levels are going to be maintained the night through. In fact, Rogers only briefly stops between a couple songs for some quick thank-yous and tour tidbits. There are a few slower tracks (like Past Life and Back In My Body) thrown in the mix for good measure and pace variation, but even those feel so soaked with emotion that they offer no relief from the ever-building intensity.
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MAGGIE ROGERS // Photo – Adrian Thomson
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Watching Rogers perform on stage, it’s hard to imagine her doing anything else. She boasts a well-earned confidence that emanates through to everyone around her, her infectious energy quashing any reservations I had about tonight’s show. This is all added to the fact that vocally, she is a complete marvel. Her talent is especially apparent in the encore performance of Color Song, which is sung sans-band and at times sans-microphone. Needing an emotional come-down from the previous track Fallingwater, Rogers commands total silence from the crowd. It’s a bold feat I have seen attempted many times before, but never have I heard a venue so diligently silent that the only backing to the track is the quiet hum of the old air conditioners. The moment leaves me genuinely wondering if it is even possible to have a talent so raw and pure, despite this all unfolding in front of me. Rogers’ voice melts away reality, the noise transcendent to the point where her quick final thank you is a jarring reminder that she somehow is human after all.
Check out Adrian Thomson’s gallery of the Perth show HERE
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