Hands up who wants to spend a night with Robbie Williams? Disclaimer: this is not just a rock concert! Tonight’s Robbie Williams show is ‘an evening with’ – and it promises to be something you’ve never experienced before. Part movie production, part concert, part chitchat, it’s a chance to both watch and be a part of the filming for his upcoming biopic ‘Better Man’. There’s even a small contingent of movie extras upfront all hyped up and dressed out – felt hats, crop tops, widelegged pants, chunky shoes and SpiceGirl hairdos – ah, truly a trip back to the 90’s. Pretty damn fly. Ahem! And we’re off…!
Pre-gig there’s introductions and filming of a couple of Take That segments, complete with a pseudo Take That boyband and a small (10 deep) pit of extras whose energy, quite frankly, is astounding. It’s different, and kind of fun, for a little while, but still, we’re here to see Robbie. And the capacity crowd at tonight’s concert (the show sold out completely in under half an hour) are hungry for a fix of the Robster, and bad. There’s pent-up vibe everywhere. As we get closer to showtime the energy releases itself with the ebb and flow of a mexican wave – starting in the back corner somewhere, building momentum, and then flooding the arena with massive, jubilant cheers. Robbie later tells the audience he was called to the side of the stage to watch. Awesome.
And then. It’s time.
Are we ready?
Robbie!
Fucking!
Williams!!!
Sporting a rough grey mohawk, black top and pants and a very snazzy silver jacket, he crashes into the anthemic ‘Let Me Entertain You’. And just in case there’s anyone who doesn’t know what’s in store? Well, they do now. It’s pure Robbie Fucking Williams who’s in da house, mon chere. Our favourite badboy with a birruv mischief thrown in – and damn he’s good. Showman with a capital S. He smirks our way. Ain’t THIS a fucking blast! Oh yeah. The place is off the charts. C’mon c’mon c’mon c’mon – he pushes us even further, and the crowd are on their feet and the floor is quite literally jumping. Even the extras have gone nuts. Yeah, the kids are doin’ alright – they seem to be enjoying it way more than they’d anticipated. Trust Robbie to win them over in the wink of an eye. He spans both generations and then some. He’s still got it.
And so the evening begins in earnest. There’s not many that can match the groove of Wilson Pickett’s ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’, but goddammit Robbie does. Aaaggggh. Ugh. He nah nah-nah-nah-nah’s his way across the stage, part style, part strut, pure magic. And we’re feelin’ pretty good y’all. Actually better than good. The audience is still going nuts, it’s Robbie and he’s BACK and we’ve just hit fever pitch. A-men y’all! A-men!
Songs like ‘Monsoon’, ‘Strong’ and ‘Come Undone’ are as pure Robbie as it gets – some of rock’s greatest self-confessions and they’re the ones that hit home hardest. ‘I’m here to make money and get laid’ he tells us. Uh huh. What’s great about Robbie is that his songs echo what all of us have truly thought or desired at one point or another, but were too civilised to confess. He knows himself – and us – too well. Our life’s a mess too Robbie. This is the bond he’s created. It’s a profound and exquisite human experience, and a rock and roll one to boot. And here he is singing out his very soul to us, telling us all the things we already know about life but are too scared to say. Fuck. No wonder we love him. Perfect innit?
‘Life’s too short to be afraid – step inside the sun’. This is what he’s all about. Come on guys, jump in the deep end, have fun, live your fucking life! And here we are, tenthousand voices strong, and we are all singing along – it’s one cohesive beautiful deep roar – an experience that will last for decades more. Mission accomplished Robbie. Mission accomplished.
And then. Just to mix it up some more, it’s Robbie covers The Don (that’s Dean Martin for all of you unhipsters out there). Yes, it’s Mr Williams with, ‘Aint That a Kick In the Head’. Ah and it’s jazzy snazzy cool – pure entertainment and he’s got the perfect voice for it. A trifecta of cheeky, crude and smooth – all that’s missing are the martinis! The crowd is grooving, wider smiles you’ve never seen. Beeeeyutiful!
After showing us how far he’s come musically (Wilson Pickett, Dean Martin), he takes us off in yet another direction, reminding us of how far he’s grown too. ‘I Love My Life’ is an ode to lessons learnt and family connections made: marriage, children, the whole kaboodle, and as he sings, the audience take it all in, wholeheartedly. A vast majority have been with him on this journey since the headstrong days of the halycon 90’s and they are proud of their Robbie for all that he’s achieved, and for how far he’s come. His achievements are their achievements too. And there is a palpable bond in the room. You can feel it.
Then it’s back to basics and ‘Rock DJ’ takes the audience to pure Robbie heaven. Can I get a witness?! Yes you can! Permission is granted to land – and off we go! ‘I don’t wanna be sleazy’ he tells us, but we know better – those thrusts and snarls, in an almost postmodern Presley parody, are showing us otherwise. Oh yeah! Let it rip Robbie! We’ve paid and he’s performing. That’s how it works right? And boy is he sellin’ it. Fists pump the air, it’s all screams and perfect reverb. The band are energy plus and the dancers are snazzing it up. Come on!
But alas, the night is getting on and Robbie brings it back down again with ‘Feel’ and ‘She’s the One’. This takes us out to a quick question and answer segment with entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins. The questions are more surface than substance, but it’s nice to see the Robster in such a rare arena and no-one’s complaining.
The night ends with Robbie’s two most iconic songs. The biopic’s namesake, ‘Better Man’, and one of the greatest pop ballads ever written, ‘Angels’. How many times Robbie Williams has performed Angels I don’t know, but I can see in his face that he still feels every single word. I have seen the song performed many times in the past, but still, every time, it’s an almost religious thing to experience. It not only wraps it’s arms around the thousands of people in the stadium, but it actually lifts them up. A spread of tiny lights begin to come alive as the song starts and by the end the dark arena is bright with them in the thousands. It’s a magical sight. Every word Robbie sings is backed by the entire audience, and then the band stops and it’s just Robbie and us, a beautiful choir, well over ten thousand strong. It’s both a humbling and awe inspiring experience. And this is why we are here – this is what rock n roll is all about – salvation through music.
Being an honorary Aussie himself, it’s not surprising to see Robbie throw in a few unique Aussie moments throughout the night. He reads out footy scores to the delight and/or disdain (depending who you barrack for) of the audience. There’s a wonderful ‘Warn-ie’ chant in honor of the late great cricket legend, Shane Warne. And as he leaves the stage, Robbie’s parting words are as larrikin as it gets: ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’. We respond in kind: “Oi Oi Oi’.
And then it’s done and he’s gone.
Seeyalatermate.
It was truly, an evening to remember.
[Linda Memphis, May 2022]
© 2022 Linda Memphis
What a awesome experience you all had