I last saw Melanie play at The Powerstation, I believe it was around 2016/17. This is when I was obsessed with the Cry Baby album and was sat outside the venue early, teardrop makeup done and all – those were the days! So as much as I knew I loved the new album and had heard tracks on Tik Tok, I didn’t know what to expect of the crowd. As I arrived to Spark Arena the queue was down the road and it was such a mix of people. Definitely a young crowd, with some people having to come with parents. But I loved to see the diversity and also the outfits! Some had added little elements to a nice outfit and someone committed to a fully-themed look with elf-like ears and all. Doors were delayed to open but eventually everyone started flowing in. The floor and seats seemed to fill pretty quickly and it was great to see that though it wasn’t a sold-out Spark Arena, it was still a huge turnout. I’d say about half the arena capacity.
As the lights went down the crowd screamed and I questioned if the crowd knew there was a support act or if they thought Melanie was coming on. But I soon realised they knew it was a support act. UPSAHL took the stage with two band members, one on drums and one on guitar. I was instantly hooked in to her performance, first by her out fit (I wanted it) and then by her energy. This women is a rockstar. You truly would have thought this show was hers and though I didn’t know her music, she seemed to really deliver both vocally and as a performer. The crowd loved her!
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The arena was packed at this point and you could see fans get very antsy. Though I did question how long some of them had waited etc as some more towards the middle of the floor were holding up phone signs for water. Water was passed back continuously and you just really hoped everyone got some and was okay. But they must have been as a “Melanie” chant kicked off.
Then, as if she heard, the lights went down, the screams were wild and an intro began to play out. It was time for Melanie. As usual these days, the crowd became a sea of phones but also just anticipation. One thing I will say I appreciate so much about Melanie, is the work she puts into her visuals and the story telling of it all. We were entering Melanie’s world.
I could give you a play by play of the show but let me just tell you what I experienced. The visuals and lighting really brought you in to the world of Portals. The lighting, the choreography, the stage props and even the dancers & bands outfit all were purposefully put together so well. It was like we were inside one of her music videos. Even vocally she was incredible, to the point I questioned if it was backing track. While I do believe som backing track was used, I could also notice when Melanie was truly singing herself. The talking, the laughs and just hearing notes be a bit higher etc. but honestly I didn’t care, I was so enthralled to watch the stories of each track be told. The colours that danced across the stage, changing with different songs and moments. Visually I was so so so obsessed.
The dancers choreography worked so well for the energy of the tracks and also just added a playfulness with Melanie joining them. Though the choreography was on point, it just also felt like they were having fun and I really think they do. The setlist was nearly just PORTALS in full, though the crowd did get treated to a few older tracks such as ‘MAD HATTER” and [INSERT SONG]. Pink butterfly confetti shot out during ‘WOMB’ which the crowd was obsessed with and collected during the show and when the show ended. This was something fans knew about and needed, as well as the items thrown out during ‘Nymphology’.
There was just so many elements to it but nothing seemed out of place. Then to end your show waving the all-inclusive pride flag and the Palestine flag is truly the cherry on top. With a “Thank you so much” and a “FREE PALESTINE!”, Melanie departed the stage. Honestly just an incredible show to witness and I am grateful I got to witness it.
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