Live Review: The Veronicas, Dean Ray

Dean Ray emerges from a smoky backdrop singing his first The X Factor 2014 audition number, Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes.

His impressive rendition showcases the talented competition runner-up’s remarkable guitar moves. A striking musician, Ray radiates a swag of confidence and projects his strong voice throughout the auditorium with a soon-to-be-released song he wrote only a few weeks ago that he calls The Winnings. The insightful Simple Things serves as an emotional call-out for people like him who have clinical depression. A cover of George Ezra’s Budapest is a joyful moment, although it doesn’t catch on as audience sing-along as quickly as he hopes. The performance takes him back to one of his most memorable performances on The X Factor, which he explains resulted in a number one iTunes Chart hit after a failed bet with his mentor.

He decides to share a stripped-back acoustic version of his ‘Winner’s Single’ Coming Back, which demonstrates effortless falsetto and vocal control. Ray throws an old record on a turntable as he casually jams along with a bluesy final number.

A montage of The Veronicas’ video clips builds excitement as we are taken on a journey back through the years with some of their biggest hits to date. The screen drops and the Sanctified tour appropriately kicks off with the thumping, country-inspired track of the same name. Lisa and Jess Origliasso certainly step up the raunch factor for this all-ages show and are decked out in contrasting, skin-tight latex outfits. This tour sees the twin sisters making a long-awaited return to Melbourne after six years and Did You Miss Me (I’m A Veronica) lets us know they are back and feisty as ever. They channel the highs and lows of their hiatus through music and tell us they cherish the support of their devoted fans. Revenge Is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were) is dedicated to all the bullshit they went through to get their record out after all this time. The Veronicas take us to church with a gospel song Always, which is about sticking it out with someone through the good times and the bad, from their new self-titled record.

After a quick costume change into an elegant dress, Lisa finally gets her dream and returns to the stage as a solo artist for about 20 seconds while her sister deals with a minor wardrobe malfunction. They slow things down for a moment and take us way back with an old favourite, Everything I’m Not, performed as a mature version on piano. You Ruin Me silences the venue and the audience hangs on every note of this perfectly harmonised ballad. The Veronicas tease us with alleged final track 4ever: an infectious, high-energy pop anthem we can’t help but sing along to.

Predictably, they return for an encore of You And Me, another acoustic number where they shine bright with a touching moment that captures their unbreakable twin sister bond. Leaving us on a positive note, their final track If You Love Someone serves as an important message to believe in yourself, voice your opinions and stand up for what you believe in. The uplifting pop anthem reinforces their peace activism as they proudly show their support for change by waving Sea Shepherd and gay pride flags during the final chorus.