Live Review: Roxette, Boom Crash Opera

Legendary rockers Boom Crash Opera start with Get Out Of The House, bringing the memories flooding back as lead singer Dale Ryder’s distinctive voice booms out.

Dancing In The Storm provokes enough crowd response to see the band play on for several more bars than necessary. Stubborn mass non-compliance ensues during Hands Up In The Air as, despite repeated calls from the band, only about ten people obey. The Best Thing is duly dedicated to the AFL/Channel Seven 2015 season video collab, which synchs the emotive song as soundtrack. Enthusiastic crowd singing of, “Keep it in/Cut it out/Kick it out!” during Onion Skin closes out the set with a suitable bang.

Ecstatic cheering and thundering bass welcomes everyone’s favourite Swedish musical duo Roxette to the stage.

Lead singer Marie Fredriksson sits gingerly on a stool, barefoot, while lead guitarist/singer Per Gessle dances and jumps around joyously during opener Sleeping In My Car. Despite her evident frailty, Fredriksson’s voice is as strong and lovely as ever. “It’s fantastic to be back!” says Gessle in his cute Swedish accent. Spending My Time gets a huge, girly-voiced-choir response from the crowd, while a few lesser-known numbers dampen the enthusiasm just a tad. “We have to slow down,” says Gessle, “’cause we’re getting old. Are you getting old?” Punters scream, “No!” (liars). Gentle tinkling keys introduce The Heart Shaped Sea and then Fredriksson sings alone on Watercolours In The Rain – it’s all just completely powerful and poignant given her fragile state then, bang! The hits roll out. A Rod Laver Arena-wide collective losing of shit happens for epic ‘90s power ballad It Must Have Been Love. Dressed For Success inspires rock-outs galore. Gessle goes straight to Fredriksson’s side and plays his guitar close to her beaming face. Joyride takes everyone somewhere completely off-planet, screaming, “Hello, you fool/I love you!”

Finishing strong with smash hits Listen To Your Heart and The Look, the audience ascends to early-‘90s nirvana. Helped to her feet, Fredriksson stands with the band and takes a bow before walking off slowly, arm-in-arm with Gessle. Fredriksson, you deserve accolades not only for your exceptional talent but also for your strength, courage and grace under pressure.