Live Review: Chris Isaak Did The Bad, Bad Thing in Perth
Chris Isaak in Concert – 4th of March 2024 at Kings Park Botanic Garden, Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Executive Summary for those with only 30 seconds to spare…
Chris Isaak does the bad, bad thing really well – despite being pretty darn unlucky in love. The undefined je nais se quoi and the visceral expulsion from his performance tonight led us to believe the lyrics were garnered from the chapters of his love-shattered autobiography. He oozed the classic rock charm through the ghosts of Elvis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison – perhaps a lazy but succinct description of the San Franciscan’s onstage persona. Put simply, Chris personified the classic entertainer, a progeny from the vintage rock and roll Americana; sprinkled with old school sexual charm in glittery suit, the swinging hips and woobly knees with finesse stemming from the golden era. The melancholic guitar riffs, the emotional crooning and emotive vocals moulded and propagated the story from the masterful lyrics of love, heartbreak, longing, nostalgia, introspection, desperation and unrequited love. The duality of rock and ballad was in perfect harmony. At 67 years young and four decades into the business, Chris Isaak – who is also an accomplished actor – remains as one of the greatest onstage interpreters in the lyrical form.
And for those with another 2 minutes – here’s the story of Chris Isaak onstage in Perth…
The performance by Chris Isaak propelled fans through a journey of the Americana dream – from the dream of an American Boy that sparked the night – narrating the longing for someone against the odds of higher opposition. Nashville cast her spell onto this big country town (coined by our east coast cousins!). The swinging instruments and on stage movements infected the mood of the Perth fans – known for being seat warmers. His guitar was occasionally pointed to the heavens, flanked in synchrony with his two guitarists. He smiled throughout, accentuating the chiselled jawline and facial structure that seemed to elicit joy from the fans. Feet were tapping, as crowd propelled to a restrained unbridled affair.
Legend has it that the singer went to a party with his then girlfriend, only to realise it was an unrequited love. He sought solitude through his guitar, shed a tear, and sparking a seminal moment in his music career. The teaser through the acoustic guitar at the intro of Somebody’s Crying sparked another wave of excitement from the fans, surprised by the serenade from a classic this early into the setlist. After three decades, Chris Isaak is still begging for love, emphasising through his signature falsetto – So please return the love…you took from me. The Grammy nominated track was performed with a delicate desperation, yet rocks through the field of longing and belonging across Kings Park Botanic Garden.
The yearning bloomed, as he descended from the stage in hope to find somebody new by embracing the crowd. Here I Stand – he presented himself. And it wasn’t just a few steps, instead, searching deep into the general area where bottles of wine and baskets were littered on the picnic rugs amongst the languid fans, who found themselves on their feet as they sprung for Chris Isaak’s attention. There were plenty of on-field embrace, including a kiss on his hand by a lady – like a loyal servant worshipping his highness, while he serenaded the surrounding with his crooning vocals. No need to sing the blues. It was a requited love tonight in Perth Western Australia.
He also played the Wicked Game – really well, despite the track is about a tortured love affair. The classic scene of two half-naked bodies entwined in a cruel desire was reimagined – and once again, drawing that dreamy vocal and falsetto, transcending the aching pain to a masterful performance. The image laden performance sent a brooding atmospheric display of black and white nostalgia, as he cried lyrically in a moody yet zestful sentiment. The pain released from his vocals was unbearable, yet infectiously soothing – it was simply paradoxically beautiful. And so, we wonder if Helena Christensen still lingers in his mind. Yeah, nah – high school is over, folks.
And it is not just the Wicked Game et al that sparked the nostalgic blues. The essences of time travel slithered across the setlist. There was a tribute to Roy Orbison through Pretty Woman. After all, Chris’s onstage dexterity has been compared to the legendary singer known for the moment in time performance in a solid jam. Just like that, the visceral connection between Chris and his guitar were inexorably linked like an extension of his body.
That was Chapter 1 of Chris Isaak’s story. The show is divided into four sonically themed sections.
The second chapter takes a break from the emotional lugubrious lyrics to the “mother of sad songs” as Chris Isaak prewarned. His sat on the stool with the guitar. And so he began with Forever Blue (of course he did).
The melancholic journey continued with another of Roy Orbison’s cover – Only the Lonely. For some, the seminal moment of tonight’s autobiography went to an Elvis cover; Can’t Help Falling In Love. We’ve heard this song played over a million times by various artists of both sexes across six decades at weddings and movies and is perhaps the number one song at the karaoke bar and KTV. But no one did it like the man himself…and Chris Isaak. Silence ensued. Not a single whisper, not a mutter, as if seven thousand students were holding onto the make or break tips for an upcoming exam. The baritone was soothing. The control of his vocals was mellifluously at par, elevating our cupid senses through the yearn of unleashing the pandora of falling in love again. Chris Isaak is possessed through the spirit of The King. Thank you for showing us we can love more than one person in this lifetime.
“Life is short, tell her that you love her.”
Classic rock returned in chapter 3 and blue seems to be Chris’s favourite part of Sir Isaac’s spectrum. And in Blue Hotel, his ability to evoke sentiment through his emotive vocals and music is second nature, highlighting the melancholic character seeking mental appease in a blue hotel, in hope of escaping from the mental trauma. The story teller’s ability to exude on top of the haunting tunes and rock intrusion was a perfect one-two duality. Old school rock still lives on.
It’s surreal that Chris Isaak is 67. He has been singing Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing for three decades. Sometimes, we were led to believe he’s still engaging in those forbidden desires, crumbling to temptation, thanks to his sexual grunt in the chorus. He turned on the grit. Then again, he’s an actor, but his stories may be real. Chris Isaak cements himself as one of the best live acts of our generation.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Revolutions Per Minute, Live Nation Australia, Mellen Events and Chris Isaak for the Press Accreditation
Chris Isaak is touring across Australia and New Zealand in April 2024. Tickets are available through Live Nation Australia
About the Writer/Photographer: Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to over 80 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), KNOTFEST (Melbourne), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, P!NK, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro (that’s her below), Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 40 artists.
