LIVE: EMINEM with HILLTOP HOODS, ROYCA DA 5’9, BOOGIE – Perth, 27 Feb, 2019

Shane | 28 February 2019 | Reply

LIVE: EMINEM with HILLTOP HOODS, ROYCE DA 5’9, BOOGIE – Perth, 27 Feb, 2019
Optus Stadium, Perth, Western Australia
Reviewed by Kevin Curran
Official venue photography by Jeremy Deputat

Optus Stadium was jam-packed and sold out for the one and only Eminem, who was making his first appearance in Perth, crazy enough as that sounds. With a massive 60,500 in attendance, it makes you wonder why he has taken so long to venture way out West to Perth.

Due to the time required to enter the venue I only got to catch Aussie hip hop legends Hilltop hoods as they got the crowd well and truly warmed up for the main event of Eminem, apologies to the other supports.

With a short cinematic video to start proceedings, Eminem burst on to the stage with Greatest, from the new Kamikaze album.

Having the majority of the time reviewed rock shows, I learnt quickly that this is different ball game in the hip hop world as full songs aren’t a thing, and quick 2-3 minute medleys were frequent as Eminem sped and carved his way quickly though select cuts from his catalogue.

He has so much charisma in his delivery and performance that it’s hard not to get lost in his ferocious rhymes. Joining him on vocal delivery was Mister Porter, who was kinda the hype man for tonight. I felt he was a little too prominent and kind of overshadowed Eminem at times during the continuous back and forth between the two, and the mix didn’t balance the two evenly.

Rap God was next, showcasing Eminem’s mind-blowingly fast vocal flow to full effect. A Little Aerosmith was borrowed in Sing Or The Moment and into hit Toy Soldiers.

Female vocals were brought in to the set from the super talented Skylar Grey, who I was unfamiliar with but became a fan of instantly. She has the ‘IT’ factor and should be a mega star in her own right.

For such popular songs as Stan and Love The Way You Lie – originally delivered by Dido and Rhianna – Grey effortlessly nailed the delivery with her graceful and seductive voice.

Support acts Royce Da 5’9 and Boogie joined Eminem for a couple of tracks before closing out the main set with mega hits My Name Is, The Real Slim Shady, Without Me and closing track Not Afraid.

Having a live band really made the songs big and full, the array of musicians playing made everything sound suitably stadium-huge.

Eminem came back and crushed it with an encore of his most well-known hit Lose Yourself, which was a personal soundtrack for the youth of most of those in attendance. With so much personal connection for so many people there’s no denying this was an iconic performance from one of rap and hip hop’s best.

Set List:
Greatest
Play Video
Won’t Back Down
3 a.m.
Square Dance
Kill You
White America
Rap God
Sing for the Moment
Toy Soldiers
Lucky You
Forever
Just Don’t Give a Fuck
Fall
Criminal
The Way I Am
Walk on Water (with Skylar Grey)
Stan (with Skylar Grey)
Love the Way You Lie (with Skylar Grey)
Majesty
Berzerk
‘Till I Collapse
Cinderella Man
Caterpillar (with Royce da 5′9″)
Fast Lane (with Royce da 5′9″)
Rainy Days (with Boogie)
River
The Monster (with Skylar Grey)
My Name Is
The Real Slim Shady
Without Me
Not Afraid