Live Review: LANY – a beautiful blur World Tour in Perth 2024
17 of September 2024 at HBF Stadium Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Every verb manifestation from the vocalist draws hysteria – mainly from the fairer sex. He rolls his sleeves to his shoulders and thrusts his hips in quick succession, sparking wild scenes on the floor of the maniacal kind. He slides from the edge of the runway and slides into the crowd, smiling and laughing in ecstasy, releasing his weight on the makeshift support, putting his trust in the hands of his fans. Those within a few arms’ lengths fused their bodies in collective fandom, eager for physical attention from the singer who has been the epicenter of their lives for the last 85 minutes…
The connection between LANY and the fans is air tight and is not exclusive to the stage. Due to a scooter accident involving frontman Paul Klein, the Australian tour in July had to be rescheduled; Perth was slotted ahead of Asia, before returning to the east coast of Australia in November. It’s a testimony of the band’s loyalty even to fans of the world’s most isolated city. After a series of detours around Perth by acts that would normally tour in the Western Australia capital – the extra mile of effort – or 6,000 miles in a round trip for a single city performance – is refreshing.
LANY – Los Angeles, New York consists of Paul Klein, vocalist, guitarist, and pianist, and Jake Goss on drums. Leslie Priest, the third member left the band to focus on a solo career. Known for their wonderful hooks and heartfelt lyrics, the duo dabble across several genres, from indie pop to alternative rock.
The prelude of their entrance is as dramatic as it is casual, with a deep humming synth propagating across the floor for ten minutes as fans casually take their spots under the bright lights of HBF Stadium. A white curtain is drawn between the audience and the fans – as seen in KISS concerts, oozing the arena feel. With the previous 2022 performance held in Perth at the intimate Astor Theatre, the crowd of around 4,000 tonight underlines the boys’ graduation onto the big stage.
At ten past the hour, white light shines from the back of the stage, carving a silhouette of the band members in a consecutive fashion, and after a tease, the curtain drops, revealing the center stage – just like at KISS concerts. The decibel spikes as cries for the man with the slight tattoo eclipses the euphoria during the entrance of a Wiggles concert. Donned in a white baggy shirt, Klein animates like an East Coast rapper, mirrored by the hysteria at Challenge Stadium in Perth, as fans are immersed in the performance of you!, ex I never had and up to me.
It took a while before the songs from a beautiful blur album in It Even Rains in LA and I Pray are performed. Klein moonlights between guitar and keyboard, but he is mostly seen zig-zagging across the stage and onto the end of the runway on most occasions, hand punching with conviction during performances such as the ex I never had. The fans mirror the center stage figure, as they dance to the core and diction of the Goss’s drums and the vocal cadence of Klein. The performance is also aided by the self-appointed back up vocalists of 4,000. The last time this writer witnessed this level of lyrical projection was at the Taylor Swift Era’s show number 4 in Sydney.
Reflective moments tangle with the keyboard during performances such as I don’t Wanna Love YOU Anymore, oozing the vulnerability of Klein, along with fan favourites in ballads 13 and Alonica – which are met by a constellation of mobile phones. And with a flick of a switch, the gear changes again with a faster beat in Mean It and dancing in the kitchen – where once again the crowd took the role of backup vocalists to the next level of volume.
As subjective as it may be, the “best song” is saved for the encore through Malibu Nights. It is deep, heart-wrenching and cathartic, fused in a single emotion, a track and ultimately the album of the same name sparked from Klein’s breakup with international superstar Dua Lipa. I don’t Wanna Love You Anymore, Thick and Thin, Through these Tears form the Dua-esque fabric of the night. The vocal sincerity of hurt is palpable, oozing the vulnerability of a man with a broken heart. It’s these balladry moments when we are immersed in the soul matrix of Paul Klein.
If this writer could make a request, it would be his favourite track of the LANY discography – the older you get, the less you cry. Not performed in the beautiful blur tour, this contemplative track is a must especially for the Asian tour given their predilection for ballads of the broken hearts!
Yet, the 23-track performance of LANY a beautiful blur tour is deserving of a five-star rating.
LANY are heading to Asia before returning to Australia on the following dates.
Fri 1 November 2024 – Melbourne – MCA*
Sun 3 Nov 2024 – Adelaide – Hindley Street Music Hall*
Wed 6 November 2024 – Sydney – Hordern Pavilion*
Fri 8 November 2024 – Brisbane – The Fortitude Music Hall*
*Yumi Zouma supporting
Tickets are available from the official LANY website
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Positive-Feeback and LANY for the accreditation.
About the Writer/Photographer: Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to almost 100 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP,P!NK, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro (pictured), Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 45 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Albany as a music journalist.
