Not many musical outfits better characterise Australia's cultural and creative diversity than The Cat Empire.
The Melbourne powerhouse released their debut self-titled album 21 years ago and have gone on to exemplify a unique execution of music genres, employing multiple instruments, crafting accessible, yet sophisticated compositions, and inviting numerous musicians and performers to add their talents to The Cat Empire's sonic arsenal (both in the studio and in live music settings).Over the years, the band has seen a revolving door of musicians come and go but one of the founding members and lead vocalist Felix Riebl has remained omnipresent, and still to this day is a key part of this musical jigsaw puzzle. The current line-up consists of eight core members (including fellow original member Ollie McGill) who are poised to release their tenth studio album, 'Bird In Paradise' next year.
Onstage, The Cat Empire are a highly infectious force guaranteeing audiences a joyful and ecstatic night to remember. It's music to sing, dance and absorb every note while allowing oneself to have their rhythms pulsate your soul.
Latin music influences are at the heart of the outfit's musical DNA as well as ska, funk and rock yet their idiom is ever expanding and crosses national borders while celebrating the art of living life to the fullest.
To truly manifest The Cat Empire's musical vision and ambition requires a special show and a beautiful venue that can match the scale of their grand artistry and creativity.
The band's vision would become fully realised when they announced earlier this year they would play three special evenings at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Not only did the outfit make their debut performance at the spectacular Concert Hall, they were also joined by the magnificent Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the wonderful Sydney Children's Choir and Arte Kanela Flamenco – a fantastic male-female flamenco tap dancing and guitar collective.
Sydneysiders and those travelling abroad and interstate who attended the second show on Friday (6 September) were in for an exemplary night with an ensemble of musicians alongside a conductor and arranger, as well as audio and lighting technicians (all world class) who made the evening's spectacle enriching and enthralling.
With all three shows sold out, the anticipation was high and the audience came ready to have their senses dazzled. Two sets with a short interval created enough time for the band to lay out a repertoire consisting of their classic material as well as some brand-new compositions that no one had heard until now.
With Spanish flamenco guitar and tap dancing adding flavour to the new songs, it sounded very much like The Cat Empire channelling The Gypsy Kings in their heyday.
The music was majestic, yet delicate and the addition of flamenco guitar and dance is why this collective are champions of multiculturalism in music, art and culture in Australia. The tap dancers especially added a mesmerising effect to the compositions and elevated the spirit of the show overall.
Latin horns and salsa piano rhythms have always been a foundational bedrock for The Cat Empire, especially on a song like 'Thunder Rumbles', with these musical ingredients going down superbly in this grand artistic space.
As if The Cat Empire were not already sonically emotive enough, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra added a beautiful, cinematic quality to the songs and a new colourful dimension, especially on a composition like 'Owl', which starts off with a Middle Eastern string arrangement that would not have likely been replicated onstage to this extent without the mastery and elegance of the Orchestra.
The Sydney Children's Choir, all wearing the band's branded t-shirts, brought new life to the song list and contributed greatly to this collective's rich tapestry of sound. Felix acknowledged how he could never quite work out what the demographic is for their audience; a quick look from front to back confirmed it – from young people performing onstage to an audience that was quite age diverse, this was a special roundup of music enthusiasts from multiple generations.
While the Sydney Opera House is designed for seated concerts, this arrangement flew out the door when 'Two Shoes' was performed with everyone standing up and dancing infectiously.
Felix delivered a moving tribute to his late brother, a fellow singer who tragically succumbed to brain cancer. He expressed a poignant wish to have shared this enchanting Concert Hall stage with him, a dream that remained unfulfilled. This heartfelt homage resonated deeply with everyone present.
When the final song of the night 'Steal The Light' was performed, everyone felt inclined to sing-along and Felix turned the microphone towards the audience who were only too happy to display their singing prowess.
A fun, riveting and unique concert ended with a long and loud standing ovation, after which the band came back onstage for a final encore, playing the composition 'Still Young', a fitting coda to what the band's philosophy is all about and how age is just a number.
This grand musical undertaking was pulled off outstandingly and will be remembered as a milestone in The Cat Empire's career and musical legacy. It was bold and ambitious, but never lost sight that music is the most powerful way to connect us to our common humanity.
