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VERA BLUE
@ Fortitude Music Hall,
Brisbane,
27th March, 2021
(Live Review)

Reviewer – Tammy Whitelaw
Live images – Tamcam Images

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When it comes to singing competitions in Australia, it seems the runners-up are often guaranteed more success than the winner themselves.  The likes of Matt Corby and Celia Pavey are prime examples of this theory.  Coming in third place on the second season of The Voice back in 2013 is an often-forgotten moment in Celia’s career.  Now performing under the moniker VERA BLUE, Celia’s blossoming career is only on the up and up.

After months of uncertainty around national touring, Vera has been lucky enough to travel up the east coast as part of the STRINGS ATTACHED series.  The raven-haired songstress takes to the stage tonight at The Fortitude Music Hall for the second night in a row, backed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.  As I walked into the venue, I had a hard time imagining how a VERA BLUE performance could get any more ethereal and angelic, but the moment the bows touched the strings for the first time, it’s clear we were in for something truly magical.  

Opening the set with two brand new, unreleased tracks – EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL, and THE ROSE is a surprising yet well received start to the show.  It isn’t long though before Vera soars through familiar songs like SETTLE and a dramatic reworking of LADY POWERS.  The orchestral arrangements inject new life into the well-loved tracks.

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Introducing HOLD, Vera shares a sweet story about wanting to learn the harp as a child.  Unfortunately, growing up in rural NSW, her harp playing dreams were never realised.  Somewhere along the way though she must have had some violin lessons as she picks up the electric violin and joins in with the orchestra on PRIVATE.

Vera’s vulnerability is exposed on LIKE I REMEMBER YOU, a track she admits struggling to get through performing without a few tears.  The mood isn’t somber for long though as REGULAR TOUCH has us wishing we weren’t confined to our seats.

Closing out the night with MENDED, I am completely lost in the sound of the orchestra and Vera’s voice intertwining.  As I look up to the stage, part of me expects VERA to be levitating above the crowd. As much as that would be an unbelievable ending to tonight’s show, VERA has another spell up her sleeve to cast upon the crowd.

After just a brief exit, Vera returns for a single song encore.  The glockenspiel and an adorably missed queue segue into the Flume smash RUSHING BACK.  By this point, there are very few butts on seats as the crowd mirrors Vera’s onstage dance moves.  Well and truly lost in the world of Vera Blue, it takes the illumination of the house lights to jolt us all back to Earth.  With another lockdown looming dangerously for Brisbane, tonight’s show was the perfect escape before reality slapped us in the face again.

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Check out Tam Schilling’s gallery of the VERA BLUE show on March 27th HERE

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Follow VERA BLUE
Website
Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
Spotify – Apple Music – Soundcloud
Google Play – Youtube

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AMNPLIFY – DB