Review: Sam Smith at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
It has been five years since Sam Smith last performed in Queensland and a Brisbane audience last night saw them in full bloom ... including in a finale that bared more than just the singer’s soul.
Lifestyle
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It’s a pretty powerful thing to watch an artist evolve so dramatically into the confident, costumed showstopper that Sam Smith has become.
Fans have seen their shows move from the early years in which the spotlight was solely on Smith, a microphone and their incredible vocals to the current extravagant, bright light, glitz and dance-filled concerts - and loved every version of both the show and the singer.
Smith capped off the successful Australian leg of their Gloria tour with a powerful performance in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
The 31-year-old singer took to the stage in front of an adoring crowd at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre after a string of shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
“I feel a bit emotional coming out here tonight,” Smith said.
“Tonight is the last Gloria show in Australia ... And it’s just so important to me that everyone in this room knows just how much me and my friends love you.
“I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to end this four than on this side of the world.”
The flashy concert was split into three parts: love, beauty and sex, and showcased the evolution of both their music and Smith as a person across all four of their albums.
It kicked off with early hits Stay with Me, I’m Not the Only One and Like I Can from In The Lonely Hour and Too Good At Goodbyes from The Thrill of it All. The loyal crowd echoed every word of each song.
The first chapter served as undeniable proof that, in all its forms, Smith’s faultless voice is at the heart of their music and emotion - especially when it stems from heartbreak.
It was the fourth time I’ve seen Smith live but the beauty of their vocals truly never wears thin - goosebumps are almost a given at any one of their shows.
The pace picked up in chapter two with songs including Diamonds, How Do You Sleep? And Dancing With A Stranger, which had the packed crowd on their feet.
Smith is so comfortable in their own skin on stage they can hardly wipe the smile off their face - twirling to applause, working the wind machine and throwing in cheeky dance moves.
It has been five years since they last performed in Brisbane and the difference between that person and who they have become is marked. Then, they were just blossoming. Now, they’re in full bloom.
Emerging in a white and silver gown for the final chapter, Smith took time to chat with the crowd.
“I have been dreaming up this moment for a long time,” they said.
The entire arena was lit up by phones as Smith sung Lay Me Down before later changing into a black sequined ensemble featuring a sparkly cowboy hat for numbers including Promises, I’m Not Here To Make Friends and Latch - the acoustic version of which I walked down the aisle to when I married my husband in 2018.
The encore - or should I say climax - began with Smith draped in a white veil which was stripped off to reveal them wearing very little for a cover of Madonna’s Human Nature.
A corset and a top hat with devil horns felt like a fitting addition for the final hit Unholy from latest album Gloria to wrap up a show that began as a love letter before venturing into a tale of lust and a lesson in confidence.
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