Live Review: Dionne Warwick – One Last Time Tour
One Last Time Tour at Riverside Theatre Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
The gentle piano introduces a track to one of life’s oldest anthems, as the poignant and reflective tone directs the audience to the time and place of their first love, and for most in the audience – their last. She builds the storyline, then expresses the most profound love that could never be replicated; I’ll never love this way again, so I keep holding on before the good one is gone…hold on…hold on, with a fist pump accompanying the last verb.
Sing it for me. The spotlight sweeps across the canopy of heads of all colours, highlighting a beautiful harmony by the capacity crowd, sounding like a congregational hymn in a hall of worship. The chorus could have gone on a perpetual cycle until daylight, but she re-joins her newly recruited backup vocalists of 2,500, while eliciting a smile that shines as glittery as the glitz and glam of her sparkly dress.
At 85, Dionne Warwick sings with a beautiful legato, maintaining a steady pitch and gently soaring when call upon.
The New Yorker is a mega hit maker, with 56 of her singles landing in Billboard’s Hot 100, making her the second most charted female artist in the rock era of 1955-1999. Only Aretha Franklin is ahead, while the likes of Madonna, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Cher are in the rear view mirror. Tonight, we are in the presence of music’s great honour.
The winner of six Grammy Awards is a living treasure. The singer also moonlighted as an actress, having been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame plus many more accolades, culminating in a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
At 8 pm, the lights of Riverside Theatre Perth soften to the twilight hues as the suave men in suits grace the stage, followed by Dionne Warwick walking gracefully to the sound of resounding cheers. The opening night of The Last Time Tour of Australia is about to begin. As she opens her vocal cords at the introduction of “Walk on By”, the 2,500 fans are whisked into a New York City club of the mid-sixties. Nostalgia trickles from the subconscious, accompanied by her warm presence. Her studio recording of over 60 years projected a smiley, soulful propagation, and it’s no different in her live rendition. Even after six decades, the Billboard hit about seeing an ex-lover still reminisce, although with reflective undertones.
Tonight’s performance is a showcase of gratitude to the Perth fans who have been riding on her trail since the black-and-white TV era. The opening track is one of the greatest songs thanks to the magic of writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David whose spirits are written all over the setlist tonight.
With playful opening lines, “What Do You Get When You Fall In Love”, fans are immersed in the charm of Ms. Warwick. As for charm – there are plenty so far, occasionally joking with the audience with playful narratives. The ups and downs of love and the ironies are well conveyed through her endearing characteristics. We are then weaved into a poignant chapter in “Message to Michael”. The song may be about a pursuit of fame that did not eventuate. Fortunately for Dionne Warwick, this is never the case.
Each musician is introduced following “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”, which is then accompanied by solo performances of each artist and rapturous applause. The drummer is from Brazil, which fitting for the bossa nova rendition of “I Say A Little Prayer” – unlike the gospel version we’d imagined with Whoopi Goldberg. And if the call for prayer is not sufficient, “What the World Needs Now Is Love” comes to the rescue.
The night culminates in another life’s anthem. As the familiar introduction sparks, the fans cheer to one of the biggest songs from the 80’s. Without invitation, the fans rejoin as backup vocalists to “That’s What Friends Are For”, but without overpowering Ms Warwick. The brightest smile elicites from center stage, afterall Dionne Warwick has garnered over hundreds of millions of fans and friends for over 60 years . The music ends, and like a prologue to a novel, she speaks to the audience.
I just want to thank you very very much…we’ve had such a wonderful time…I certainly had a good time…
And she continues, keep smiling, keep shining…knowing you can always count on me…for sure…that’s what friends are for…
The audience rise to their feet with a standing ovation with six decades worth of thunderous clapping, as Dionne Warwick exits Perth for the last time…
Dionne Warwick is touring across Australia. Tickets and info are available from Frontier Touring
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring and Dionne Warwick for the invite.
About the Writer/Photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 150 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and Robbie Williams with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro (pictured below), Ian Moss, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
