Live Review: Roxette, Boom Crash Opera

It was with Great Wall and Get Out Of The House that Boom Crash Opera pumped up tonight’s crowd. With a bit of swearing, jumping around and dancing, lead singer Dale Ryder kept the crowd entertained. They then played Hands Up In The Air and The Best Thing before closing their short set with Onion Skin.

With the Arena almost full, the ecstatic crowd screamed for Roxette when the lights went out. The Swedish duo Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle opened with Sleeping In My Car and Big Love. “It’s fantastic to be back. We missed you all, hope you missed us?” said Fredriksson before launching into Spending My Time.

After performing Crash Boom Bang, the tiny, fragile Fredriksson sat down for the rest of the set. Back in 2002, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour that has affected her movement, hearing and left her blind in her right eye. This hasn’t yet changed her vocal ability, however, as she blew the audience away with her vocals as they played She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio), The Heart Shaped Sea and Watercolours In The Rain. A starry background and piano set the scene for Paint, which Fredriksson sang without Gessle, before he rejoined her on stage for Fading Like A Flower.

No seats were needed after How Do You Do? as Roxette delivered hit after hit, leaving everyone dancing and singing along. Gessle explained how It Must Have Been Love was originally meant to be a Christmas song before becoming famous on the Pretty Woman soundtrack. They played Success and Dangerous, before guitarist Christoffer Lundquist did an incredible crowd-pleasing version of Waltzing Matilda. The duo then sang Joyride before disappearing off stage.

Under purple lights, Roxette returned for an encore that started with Almost Unreal. With it being Valentine’s Day, many couples were waiting to slow dance to Listen To Your Heart, and even though she was sitting down, Fredriksson was able to deliver. The Look ended the show, the crowd singing “And she goes: na na na na na na na na.”

Roxette were absolutely phenomenal. The audience got their hits, vocals were outstanding and everyone was out of their seats – what more could you want? This tour marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of Roxette – 30 years of rocking and they still got it.