Live Review: Macklemore in Perth 2024
Concert of Macklemore – The Ben Tour Live at HBF Stadium in Perth, Western Australia on 20th of April 2024.
By Lee Garces
Photo by Travis Hayto
Sydney Harbour Bridge, Kangaroos and Uluru – an entrée to the giant visual spectacle served before Macklemore stormed into the roaring chamber of 5000 fans at HBF Stadium in Perth on Monday night.
Kids and teenage dreamers squealed, while mothers and fathers raised their hands with rock god gestures and love hearts after Macklemore’s opening track, CHANT which featured a surprise performance with Aussie Tones And I joining the Seattle-based artist on stage for their 2022 track. The introduction was as explosive as it legally gets for this gig, sparking the jumping, dancing and singalong festivities of an evening.
Slowly sliding up the shades that were covering his big blues, Ben Haggerty, aka Macklemore teased the eclectic crowd across all ages on the first night of his two sold out shows in Perth – the final leg of The Ben Tour in Australia. We can assume night two will be a reflection of the unbridled reception.
“This mother f**ker’s cosy…but we didn’t come here to get cosy my people. This is not an opera, this is not a movie, this is not a play – this is a mother f**king hip hop show!”. Requesting that everyone rise from their comfortable seats, the 5000-strong crowd conforming and shifting the energy within HBF Stadium by jumping out of their seats. “Do you feel the difference in that energy…this is our show. I need you guys just like you need me tonight. This is reciprocity, this is human emotion…I need you all to be here tonight!”
Asking the crowd to stand, dance and sing wasn’t the only request from the GRAMMY Award winning artist; phones down and be present was the message of the night – not that many obliged. “No hate on the cell phones…put your phones away, I wanna be here with you tonight.”
Macklemore’s energy combined with trumpets, dancers and a larger than life, visually bursting screen as his backdrop was infectious, as the crowd was treated on a musical journey with Ben reminding us that “Sometimes in order to go forward on a journey, we gotta go back to where it all started.” Looking ‘incredible in his big-ass coat’ we were taken back to massive hit Thrift Shop.
The night was full of hits though as the likes of Same Love and Downtown turned the stadium into a choir. Reminding us that we’ve lost connection in our community, and we need to “take care of one another” – this guy is not your average hip-hop rapper.
Protest song and new release Hinds Hall received a massive welcome as Macklemore highlighted current events and the artist’s support of a free Palestine. The rapper has been vocal about his views and admits that he has often felt uncomfortable about speaking out.
Receiving raging applause from the crowd, he continued to confirm that he does not want this twisted – “I am an advocate of love and liberation for ALL people, there is no side in humanity…as Nina Simone said, ‘it is an artist’s responsibility to reflect the times that they are in’, and I would not be doing my job if I didn’t use this microphone that I have, to speak the truth. Liberation for all.” A gesture that had the crowd chanting, “Free Free Palestine” during his performance of this song, in agreement with this super star.
Bringing the room back to the music, Macklemore delivered with both old and new, including massive hit These Days and light-hearted track 1984 from more recent album, Ben. All before picking two fans from the audience to battle in an on stage dance-off. With 20 seconds each, Bella and Ava making it into the “Macklemore Dance-Off Hall of Fame” thanks to their fierce popping, cartwheels and a perfectly timed death drop by Ava. Well done girls – super impressive moves!
The fun wasn’t over yet though – flicking drinks into the crowd during Tequila, before ending this set with the entire stadium jumping like Kris Kross, joining Ben and filling in for Sklyar Grey as they sang Glorious together in perfect tone of 5001.
Reminding fans of the Good Old Days and Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore, the once 7 year old who knew he was meant to live his life with a microphone in his hand, is doing just that – and a damn good job of it.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring and Macklemore for the media accreditation.
About the Writer – Lee Garces is a writer, local lifestyle and events photographer based in Rockingham with a great appreciation of Australian music. Keep an eye out as she endeavours to continue to capture more of our homemade talent, right here in Perth!
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), KNOTFEST (Melbourne), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, 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.
