Concert Review: Matt Corby Live in Fremantle
Matt Corby, 10th December 2023 at Fremantle Prison, Western Australia.
Review by Lee Garces
Photography by PRAIA Photography (also Lee Garces!)
The Main Parade Ground of Fremantle Prison holds an ambiance that can only be described as having those ‘Freo vibes’ as it is covered with hundreds of relaxed and easygoing music lovers, on the evening of Sunday December 10. Following a sold out first show on Friday December 8, this crowd – just as eager as the first – jumped at the opportunity to experience all that is Matt Corby as he continues to tour his newly released album Everything’s Fine across Australia.
As some continue to enjoy a glass of wine stretched out on the grass, others begin to move closer to the barriers that keep them from approaching the stage that is set up under the skies of a perfectly clear and starlit summer night.
In pure confidence and style Matt emerges from the shadows, taking center stage and approaching the keys to open his set with Carry On. The diverse crowd erupts with whistles and cheers before settling into complete silence as Matt begins his soulful and alluring performance, continuing on with Problems and Lover.
As quiet and shy as Matt Corby appears to be on stage, with minimal interaction with the crowd, it became apparent that this is about the music. The vocals, the sound and the deeply personal lyrics that form part of every track that Matt Corby writes and expresses, leaving you with no option other than to feel something deeply. Confirmation of this came from the amount of silence from the audience for most of the night, as couples swayed in each other’s arms with gazes fixed on the ever humble musician on stage.
Delivering with eyes closed for majority of his set and a voice just so distinctive, he captivates the audience further with tracks from the new album such as Mainies and Reelin’. Matt acknowledging the audience and telling them they “are very tame” compared to a recent show in New Zealand, referring to certain explicit comments from one front row NZ fan, giving Fremantle fans a chuckle.
Matt hit much more than notes on this night when he put his entire being into the delivery of Better Than That, sending tears down cheeks and chills up the spines of many, with the only sound to break the open-air silence being the screaming and whistling expressed from the audience as the song reached its peak. Longtime fan, Courtney, later describing the performance as “soulful and inspiring with such an empowering voice”.
Listeners becoming completely immersed when Matt picks a guitar and effortlessly showcases his versatility, performing old time favourite of many, Resolution. With a raw completion of the track, the authentic vocals continue into the delivery of Souls A’Fire, keeping many completely absorbed in the sounds of his lyrical genius. “His vocal range was out of this world and so effortless, absolutely smooth like butter” – Simone, who has been following Matt’s journey since Australian Idol.
After quietly disappearing off stage and a quick return, an acoustic cover of TLC’s 90’s hit No Scrubs was first up on the list of the encore set. A self-confessed childhood favourite which Matt performed for Triple J’s Like A Version earlier this year, he had fans bopping about and singing along as they knew the time and space being shared here was nearing the end.
Many anticipated the ARIA award winning Brother to make an appearance, and it wasn’t until the end of the evening that we were gifted this powerful crowd pleasing favourite. Ending the evening with a bit of Miracle Love and extending the mic to those gathered for one final sing-a-long, Matt’s final thanks to the audience was sincere, “thank you for coming, it means a lot to me, you’re amazing”.
There are some people who are just born to grace the stage. Matt Corby is certainly one of those.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Face to Face Touring and Matt Corby for the Press Accreditation.
About the Photographer and Writer: Lee Garces is a local lifestyle 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!
Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review the likes of Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, KISS, Robbie Williams plus more than sixty major live shows in Perth, with reviews shared by various artists including UB40, Toni Childs and Delta Goodrem. The founder has also interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses) and many more.
