Live Review – HANS: DISCO SPEKTAKULÄR at The Fringe World Festival Perth
6 February 2024 at L’Euro Grande, Perth Western Australia – Opening Night
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Simply Spektakular.
For the rock dwellers – Hans “Like a German” – is not German. The leader of the flamboyance brigade is the alter ego of Matt Gilbertson of Adelaide – a Sunday Mail gossip columnist who has been obsessed with likes of Kylie Minogue since the days of The Loco-Motion. From a street busker to winning a series of Adelaide festival awards and strutting his salacious alter ego on the world stage as a grand finalist on America’s Got Talent, Hans gyrates the art of duality with the world’s most unique entertainers, blooming into the city of churches’ most awarded (and wanted) show master.
The king of flaunt reminded the audience of his stardomship as a two-week resident at The Fringe World Festival, through a montage of his Grand Final appearance on American’s Got Talent, followed by interviews on several American breakfast shows. And of course that infamous fall where he broke his body in four places, temporarily confining into a wheelchair named “Karma”. Ironic? He pondered. Not quite the four-metre stage dive that frequents among the 80’s rockstars, but the calamity has also summoned him to a class of satirical notoriety, thus fittingly sparking the evening with Elton John’s The Bitch is Back.
Supported by a guitarist, drummer, engineers and two backup vocalists, Hans stormed the intimate venue “L’Euro Grande” (The European Foods Market in Northbridge) with classic club bangers such as Crystal Water’s 100% Pure Love, puppeteering the “50 shades of grey” crowd from their seats. The sonic bravado was entertaining, and the performance transcended the night of covers across several outfit changes.
Music turned to stand-up comedy, and like a good comedian, he dug into the local flavour, poking on Perth politics where Hans once expressed his concern that he had no local material after former Perth Mayor Lisa Scafidi left office…“but then Basil Zampilas became the mayor”. The audience were also subjected to light hearted tease. No shaming, just fun faring hysteria in a safe, inclusive environment; just ask the two gentlemen who were handpicked for an outfit change into tutus, followed by a dance-off in a hilarious exhibition of improvised flaunt and flamboyance. The bigger of the two may appear incongruous to the feathery grace of a ballerina, but the cheers from the crowd ensured he was in his happy zone. Well done gents.
Hans is more than a visual and vocal glitter – the multi-instrumentalist showcased his prowess in piano, tapping the ebony and ivory like tap dancers on fingers with the zest of the Rocket Man (no, not Kim Jong Un). He also reflected the reality of showbiz, with keyboard warriors expressing their disdain of his performance, only to face a series of online witty comebacks that was displayed onto the projector.
Then of course came the accordion – as he flapped his arms through a medley sample of the Australian musical landscape including Treaty, Howzat and Shannon Noel’s cover of What About Me, all baptised under the sweeping limelight of green and gold that rekindled patriotism within a major arena hosting a team like The Matildas, culminating into an Aussie celebration of unity and solidarity.
Perhaps The Dancing Queen should’ve been on the setlist, afterall he moved well enough, keeping up with two flanking dancers and singers. Like assistants to magicians, the pair of ladies were more than bridesmaids, thanks to their zippity zap on a stage that was already drenched in a vegas-esque entertainment. And dance there were plenty, in a venue propped with balloons bopping across the venue like in a scene of a Coldplay concert.
As the show came to a close, Hans invited the audience onto the stage, where the dancer, singer, comedian and entertainment king became the ultimate party host in one the most entertaining nights in The Fringe World Festival.
HANS: DISCO SPEKTAKULÄR will continue to showcase at The Fringe World Festival Perth to the 18th of February. Tickets can be found on Hansofficial.com
The writer/photographer would like to thank Revolutions Per Minute, Hans and Fringe World Festival for the media invite.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review over 70 of the hottest acts in Perth including Coldplay, KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lizzo with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) and over forty legends.
