Project Description

MATT CORBY

+ Eliott + BLESSED

Margaret Court Arena

12/04/19

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Kelsey Hentschel

Photographer: Taylah Walton

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Check out the full Gallery HERE

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On Friday the 12^th of April Margaret Court Arena played host to the Australian dream boat, Matt Corby. Fans poured into the arena for opening acts Eliott & BLESSED. When it came time Matt strolled out onto the stage barefoot as if this were his living room and he was about to casually play a few songs for us, his friends. He swiftly opened the show with a handful of songs from his latest album Rainbow Valley including ‘Light My Dart Up’, ‘No Ordinary Life’, ‘All That I See’ and ‘New Day Coming’. Seeing as this is the Rainbow Valley Tour, it was a nice way to introduce us to the night and celebrate the album we weren’t entirely sure we would get.

Corby is notoriously allusive in regard to social media, and always has been so when we hear that our beloved song bird is coming down from the tree for a tour it incites excitement which cannot be rivalled by the bands and artists who we have the ability to keep up with on the internet. In typical Matt Corby fashion, he was a man of very few words. I don’t recall him saying more than 3 full sentences to the crowd throughout the entire set. Towards the end of the evening he announced “This is the scariest show I’ve ever played. So thank you for that.” And that he only had a few songs left to perform for us “Is that ok?”; I would’ve loved to see more interaction between Corby and the audience, but there’s something quite endearing about a shy musician performing to thousands of people.

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Corby was joined on stage by a team of musicians. There were two keyboardists, bass guitarist, a guitarist, drummer, two backing singers, and a bit of flute here and there. While Corby himself was rotating through his keyboards, synths, and guitars he never missed a beat or a note for that matter. The multi-instrumentalist even brought out a flute during ‘Empires Attraction‘. A man of many talents indeed.

My personal favourite ‘Monday’ arrived in the set at the halfway mark bringing an air of folky upbeat almost jazz like sound. It was a welcome change to the set. Matt altered a few notes here and there which totally changed the feel of the song. It was spectacular.

The reasons for Corby’s explosive career ‘Brother’ and ‘Resolution’ were  sprinkled through the set list to keep us on our toes. Even with his well known songs, he continues to keep it fresh and interesting with slight alterations to his music and his voice. Nobody has a voice like Matt Corby. At least nobody I know of.

While ‘Rainbow Valley’ was understandably Corby’s main focus, I’m glad he make sure to deliver the old classics such as ‘Brother’, ‘Resolution’, ‘Empires Attraction’, and the ancient (in comparison) but absolutely awe inspiring ‘Souls A’fire’. These older tracks could’ve easily been lost in a sea of new material, but I’m so thankful they weren’t.

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As to be expected, Corby and his crew were summoned back to the stage after their swift exit, by an auditorium of stomping feet for the traditional encore dance. All in all, Corby provided a complete musical experience. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, and It’s not just because he is a perfect human specimen, while that definitely helps. He has a quality that makes him magnetic. You want to know him. And he’s not afraid to let you in. His music left me feeling warm and calm. It was the most therapeutic concert I’ve ever been to, and probably ever will go to.

Before his final song, ‘Miracle Love’, one of my picks as number one from the new album, he thanked us for being a “Delicious” crowd. An interesting choice of adjective, but a flattering one none the less. Matt Corby is probably one of the coolest, most laidback Aussies in the music industry today. It was great to see him before he disappears back to Rainbow Valley (the name of his property in NSW) to hopefully start on a new album. Thanks Matt.

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Check out Taylah Walton‘s gallery of the show here

Connect with MATT CORBY

@ OneBigLink

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