Live Review: Chris de Burgh 50LO Tour in Perth, Australia
12 May 2025 at Perth Riverside Theatre, Western Australia Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photos by Valerie Lee
Chris de Burgh is a master storyteller. The Argentinian-born Irishman transcends the legacy of Lady in Red. More on that later.
The singer-songwriter has sold over 45 million albums. He signed his first contract in 1974 – a couple of years before this writer was born. Tonight’s show is a culmination of those 50 years in music at the back of the latest album, 50 – chronicling 50 years in the music industry. LOL stands for Last One Laughing – taking us to 50LO Tour 2025. Perhaps it’s the last one.
Tonight, Chris de Burgh takes us on an undulating half-century journey, telling us a story of love, history, political upheaval, and fantasy through narrative-driven lyrics. He has written over 300 songs, spread over 23 studio albums.
Chris de Burgh graces the stage by himself, with the guitar and flanked by the piano. It is similar to Prince’s final tour – Piano and Microphone Tour, performing in isolation, thus drawing our attention towards the lonesome limelight, while exposing the artistic vulnerability and virtuosity that he’s known for.
He commences the night with The Hands of Man, Here is Your Paradise and Missing You. It is an eclectic spark, with the first track exploring the duality of human capabilities from construction and destruction, and straight to the heart with ballads of devotion and longing. His voice is delicate, reaching the required falsetto and longevity, and soothing, despite the bleak storylines. His connection with his audience is undeniable.
Missing You is one of Chris’s most memorable tracks. Released in 1988, it reached number 3 in the UK. Even after almost 40 years, Chris begs with the emotional depth of a heartbreak, and dwells in longing as he stands behind the guitar. It may have drizzled with poignancy earlier, but the nostalgic rain has poured from the roof of the Perth Riverside Theatre, drenching the capacity crowd. Every one of the 2,500 fans is drowned in his regret and desperation, while swimming in the beautiful classic, ballad-style track of our lives. This is beautiful. Just Chris and the guitar.
Some of us may only know Lady in Red from his discography. But that’s ok, as we are engrossed on a journey of storytelling, without knowing the plot. It’s easy listening; Chris de Burgh sings with clarity, with diction and every syllable emphasised, simmering in the palpable sincerity and projection full of emotion and believability that remains world-class to this night.
It’s Me, And I’m Ready To Go also highlights the vocal personification, reaching the heights that we never knew existed in a septuagenarian. It’s another wonderful narrative-based storyline song that is captivating. Borderline is another highlight, telling the story of love and separation during war. We feel the soldier’s utter hurt of saying goodbye – And it’s breaking my heart, I know what I must do…I hear my country call me, but I wanna be with you. It may be the first time this writer has heard of this track, but he shares the warrior’s heartbreak, as if old wounds are exposed again.
The surprises keep flowing, such as Elvis’s Always On My Mind. With a flick of the switch, another heartfelt rendition oozed, like a soul that’s full of regret. It felt more like Willie Nelson’s raw emotion than Elvis’s original, one that’s vulnerable with the old school charm, like a man who’s drowning in a fine whiskey from Tennessee.
Chris loves to talk, virtually connecting with the audience before every song of his 32-song setlist. And he loves to joke. The audience loves the connection, often replying to his charm.
As for connection there are plenty, with the crowd chanting la la la la in A Spaceman Came Travelling, and singing along to the Don’t Pay the Ferryman.
Then comes the anthem of our love fantasies, the visceral phenomena that comes with an unrequited love. The dawn of the opening chapter of our greatest love, the everlasting song that shall remain forever in our music box – Lady in Red. Although we have been in the 80s bubble for over 2 hours, for many, the journey culminates at this moment. The glee is on everyone’s faces, including the lady in red next to this writer. Her smile elicits happiness, as the collective soul of 2500 oozes a moment of utter content. For 4 minutes, we are in a place where we felt free.
During the encore, Chris de Burgh invites his fans to the front. The music drums into a celebratory mode, including a rendition of Toto’s Africa. One of the 80s anthems has just landed with fans set in delirium. He claps to the cadence of the beat, mirrored by the crowd before returning for an encore in Where Peaceful Waters Flow and Legacy. As he walks out, he wears the colours of Ukraine, underlining his well wishes for peace and equanimity.
“The first question I got is…Is he still alive?…
The first question I get is, can he still sing?…
The other question I get is…Is he glad to be back in Perth?“
Well, after 32 songs with plenty of stories in between, the 50 year journey on a 2.5-hour spectacle gets a solid YES.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring and Chris de Burgh for the media accreditation.
About the Writer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 170 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and of course The Script with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, UB40, Delta Goodrem and Tina Arena 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.
