It is a perfect evening as the lines of people stream in for Fred again at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena (12 March).
JOY (ANONYMOUS) are kicking off the night in style with their delectable house-pop tunes. Frontman Henry Counsell's vocals are smooth and inviting, like your first pina colada on vacation.The crowd waits with anticipation as Fred again delays his beginning. Fred begins with singular hits of piano notes accompanied by vocals from 'Kyle (I Found You)' as the stage floods red. "I've been looking forward to this for months," the screen reads as the crowd cheers.
"Four years ago I started making a musical diary," the screen continues the story, as spoken word poetry takes over. "I found you beautiful," the poet speaks as Fred hits a solid bass note that rings through your chest.
Fred plays an emotional piano loop as sentimental videos stream across the screen, before the beat kicks. Everyone in the sold-out arena is moving with smiles spread wide. The auditorium lights strobe red and sentiments are high and nostalgic. You can see this is more than a concert, it's an immersive experience.
"The best thing about this tour is we got to come back here twice," Fred shares. "So this feels like a homecoming." The crowd shows their appreciation.
The stage immerses in blue for 'Bleu (Better With Time)' as the song sings: "Just know that it gets better with time." When the bass kicks, a lightning bolt streams up the screen and across another screen that stretches across the roof. It is very effective. The drums kick furiously before the song ends abruptly.
"Sometimes we freestyle these sets," Fred says. "We just feel it out, and sometimes I need to get my breath back, so I play piano. I'm gunna do that for a second."
A video of JOY (ANONYMOUS) plays, of Counsell opening a door onto a snowy balcony. Fred introduces new song 'Peace You Need', playing it live for only the third time, yet the crowd already know the words. Counsell joins the song on vocals, running from the stands across to the stage. Fred splits the crowd to sing the two parts of the song and it is beautiful.
Fred samples the crowd's cheer for the next song, as the screen turns black and white. He disappears to reappear on another prepared stage in the centre of the arena. A coloured square drops from the ceiling as if it's going to encase him. The bass kicks extra hard as the lights strobe.
He drops 'Jungle' and the crowd loses it. It's the hardest section of the night and the white lights strobe in patterns on the ceiling.
Fred plays a loop of Angie McMahon singing "I've been lost" and the bass begins thumping again as the screen shows a montage of people walking away from the camera. 'Billie (Loving Arms)' sees the crowd embrace one another in a joyous celebration of togetherness.
Fred introduces his final song 'Adore U', which he wrote for his little sister and dedicates it additionally to his five-month-old niece. It's a touching way to end the evening.
Fred again does so well at showcasing the beauty of humanity and creating a sonic landscape to complement it. He is a true artist in his control of emotion and generating sentiment, and not one soul is leaving that arena untouched tonight.
