Matchbox 20 frontman turned solo artist Rob Thomas couldn't have curated this picture-perfect evening (24 February) better if he tried.
Following a balmy 30-degree day, the sun set immaculately throughout Peter Murray's opening performance, leaving Thomas to bask in the glow of a full moon with the Opera House Forecourt as his stage and the Harbour Bridge as his backdrop.
Legions of fans spread from the bottom of Forecourt to the very top steps of the Opera House in anticipation of an artist they've been following for decades. The attire was smart casual, the audience was middle-aged and the women, well there were plenty.
Seated was the general status of the punters, that is until Thomas graced the stage with 2009 hit 'Give Me The Meltdown', causing a mass exodus of butts from chairs and revealing the true nature of Thomas fans: they're excitable. They're involved. And they're not afraid to dance in their seats. And in the aisles. And just about anywhere.
Despite being his 'The Great Unknown' tour in promotion of his latest record of the same name, Thomas' 2-hour, 21-strong-song setlist was a thick cocktail of old and new tracks spanning his 20 years on the circuit. And while dance and pop numbers like 'Smooth' and 'This Is How The Heart Breaks' were played steady and true, more than a handful of delicious golden olds were flecked with their own uniquely live touches.
For the dedicated fan, I think it'd be fair to say that Thomas' trio of new songs paled in comparison with his classics. 'Lonely No More', the third song off the bat, was also the first to see the crowd singing along ecstatically while emotionally-driven 'Ever The Same' and 'Hold On Forever' kept them hushed in their seats and waving their phone lights magically into the cloudless, summer night.
As 'Little Wonders' rolled in, so did an upright piano for Thomas to serenade us with. The standout songs for the evening, however, were the main set's closer, '3 A.M.' and the encore's 'Unwell'.
Rendered acoustic and paired with lashings of soul, they were the breathtakingly exquisite diamonds among the mass of country, rock, pop, rap, disco and dance music that Thomas regaled his adoring fans with tonight.
