Tim Minchin versus WASO @Kings Park, Perth (05/03/11)

Mon 7th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

“I’m in a cage”, Tim Minchin aptly sang on Saturday night as he danced around inside a cage.

“Nothing ruins comedy like outdoor arenas”, Minchin said. He explained in his first song exactly what the audience was feeling. It was windy, squishy and from the back all you could see was a black and white blob with a mass of teased orange (or ranga, or bloodnut, or tampon according to Minchin. Dare I say ginger?).

Although all was forgiven and forgotten as Minchin rocked his way out of the cage.

What is more ironic than Minchin singing satirical songs about being a rock star, making a spectacular caged entrance and wearing black skinny leg jeans? It’s that Minchin has become a genuine rock star, performing to thousands of people in front of the orchestra he always thought he deserved.

It’s Minchin’s job to say and sing controversial things about race and religion that we perhaps think once in a while but are too scared to say. He surely didn’t disappoint this time around. He even sang controversial things about cheese.

Cont(ext) was particularly impressive. He managed to squeeze in his hatred for almost every minority group into lyrics held down by a can of Aeroguard. Conveniently, the Aeroguard had “accidentally” covered half of the words, the words that justified the rest of the song. Minchin showed that he has become a lyrical genius over the past ten years.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra was not as prominent in this performance as they have been with other artists. WASO became more prominent during You Grew On Me, but as an appropriately subtle accompaniment. Those who knew Minchin’s older songs such as Rock ‘n’ Roll Nerd and Not Perfect saw that WASO provided an excellent backdrop for Minchin’s piano repertoire.

WASOs most memorable role, and the one most clearly influenced by Minchin, was during The Pope Song. Only Minchin could convince a symphony orchestra to yell out “f***ers” every cople of lines.

Minchin nailed his show-ender Dark Side with intensity. There was even a piano-drum off, but naturally, Minchin won.

After not one, but two encores and a standing ovation, Minchin ended the show with the nostalgic White Wine in the Sun, a serious song written for his daughter. It resonated with the crowd and was a fitting end to a show in his home town.