LIVE: ROBBIE WILLIAMS, Nikola Estate, Perth, Western Australia – 30 Nov, 2023

LIVE: ROBBIE WILLIAMS, Nikola Estate, Perth, Western Australia – 30 Nov, 2023
Reviewed by Trulie Pinnegar
Photography by Stu McKay

Robbie Williams and Nikola Estate threw a truly memorable event last night for music lovers – though for vastly different reasons.

The former is a pop icon, a consummate entertainer and showman who held the crowd in the palm of his hand – and on their feet – from the moment he announced “My name is Robbie fucking Williams, this is my band, this is my ass – are you with me?!”

The latter is a venue who seemed to not have a clue how to run a large event, with insanely long queues to enter the venue meaning many, including us, missed support acts Gaz Coombes of Supergrass fame, Lufthaus and YO! MAFIA, and in some cases the start of the headliner’s performance. The trouble got worse after the show, with huge queues left waiting literally HOURS to exit – many until well after 1am, and some giving up and sleeping in their cars. Social media was rife with angry punters vowing they would never attend another event at Nikola Estate – hardly surprising considering the show concluded at 10:45pm.

Williams was in sterling form, though – he even said so himself on this, the second last show of his world tour – taking the audience on a tour of his 33-year musical career, narrating his way throughout with stories of how each stage of his career impacted his life. The man’s ego is undeniable, but after reaching the highest of highs and lowest of lows he’s humble along with it.

In classic Robbie style he roasted the crowd playfully and self deprecatingly joked about his own fitness after the opening number – “I’m fucked! I’m too old for this shit!” He went on to single out a couple in the audience to chat hilariously with throughout the show, sang She’s The One directly to a pretty girl in the crowd, and made everyone present feel that – despite the big performance, with dancers, an amazing trio of singers and an on-point band including a brass section, not to mention an impressive laser show throughout – they were personally included in an experience far more intimate than it actually was.

An excellent rendition of You’re The Voice was a great tribute to John Farnham, and the joy on Williams’ face at the crowd’s reaction to his announcement that he was 24 years sober was a delight.

Final complete song Angels was simply epic, with Williams reluctant to tear himself away as he dragged the song out to over ten minutes, singing snippets from other favourites before finally exiting to the resounding sound of the whole audience singing the chorus of Angels, then a tape of I’ve Had The Time Of My Life played, and we really had.

Robbie: 10 out of 10.
Nikola Estate: 1 out of 10.

Set List:
Hey Wow Yeah Yeah
Let Me Entertain You
Land of 1000 Dances 

Strong
Come Undone
Do What U Like (Take That song)
Could It Be Magic
Don’t Look Back in Anger 
Back for Good (Take That song)
Love My Life
Candy
Feel
Kids
Rock DJ

Encore:
You’re the Voice
She’s the One
Angels
Let Me Entertain You / Strong / Come Undone / Better Man / Feel / Angels

 

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries