Last night, Audrey Hobert packed out Melbourne’s Forum for her first of two sold-out headline shows on her first proper Australian tour, Staircase To Stardom.
There’s been a recent trend of international acts not having an opener, and while this is definitely disappointing, it felt fitting for a midweek concert on a freezing night. The only songs Hobert has ever written are the 12 on her debut album, Who’s The Clown, so even with every track on the setlist, it was always going to be a short show.
The crowd was absolutely buzzing, with the line wrapping all the way around The Forum and down Swanston Street over an hour before doors opened. There were hundreds of glittering tiaras, a reference to Hobert’s “Bowling Alley” music video, as well as people dressed as bowling pins and clowns, setting the tone for a very fun evening ahead.
The floor was packed as it got closer to 8:30 pm, with a pre-show playlist pumping up the crowd in lieu of an opening band. When it was time, Hobert and her band took to the stage, with her in a trench coat and Groucho glasses, holding a banjo. She broke into “I Like To Touch People”, followed by “Drive” and “Wet Hair”. Between each track, there was a subtle costume change, some sound effects, and various props, which really made the short set feel full. During “Wet Hair”, she broke out in a spoken-word monologue about how the way she views herself now is not dependent on other people- this is a common theme throughout Who’s The Clown.
After a few words to the audience, she played “Don’t Go Back To His Ass”, followed by her hit “Bowling Alley”. This one was a real highlight of the night, with Hobert’s stage presence commanding the energetic crowd. “Thirst Trap” was somehow even more fun in person, and “Sex And The City” was highly anticipated with the audience hanging onto every word. “Shooting Star” was one of those moments where experiencing it live makes you appreciate the track so much more.
There is something so incredibly unique about Hobert- she’s new to writing and performing music, and all of her songs are so specific yet so incredibly relatable. There was something truly special about being in a room full of people singing about that feeling of realising you’ve got to go out to a party after you’ve already put on your pyjamas, or not feeling wanted, or how life is never the way it seems in a 90s sitcom.
This brings us to “Phoebe”, my personal favourite from the record, and a special moment amid a brilliant set. “This is my favourite part of the night,” Hobert announced, “Because I get to look at all of you and share this moment with you.”, and it really felt so intimate. As the audience sang “I think I’ve got a fucked-up face, and that thought used to haunt me, ’til it fell in its sweet embrace, now I don’t sweat the acne, it’s a bitch, but it goes away”, something inside me healed completely. Who needs therapy when you can go to an Audrey Hobert show?
“Chateau” followed, a track written after one night at the Chateau Marmont, and a massive fan favourite. A little more of a stripped-back track on the album, this one felt really big- fake roses were tossed on stage as Hobert danced around, running from one side to the other.
Her lead single “Sue Me” was, of course, another massive standout. The prop for this one is a small trampoline with a handlebar, and Hobert spends the intro jumping into various poses- it’s bizarre and perfect. “Silver Jubilee” was such a fun experience, with the crowd really embracing the party vibes- every hand was up and the singing was so loud it drowned Hobert out.
Then, the closer. It’s become a known fact that on this tour Hobert performs “Sue Me” twice, with the second time closing out the show, however there’s one difference: no phones allowed. The audience was all over it, with Hobert saying “I think you guys know how this goes”. This was an electric moment. Not a single phone up, the floor turned into a mosh pit as everyone jumped and screamed. It felt totally different to the first time she played it- louder, more energy, way more freeing.
Then the show ended, wrapping up at 9:20pm, which is when most bands are just starting to make their entrance.
Audrey Hobert’s Staircase to Stardom tour was hands-down my favourite live show of the year. Hobert possesses the ability to make each person in the room feel so seen, through her lyrics and stage presence, and that was felt on Tuesday night. It’s obvious from the immense success of her debut album that it’s only up from here, so catching her at an intimate venue like The Forum was something I’ll remember fondly when she’s headlining arenas in the near future.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Header image from author
Reviewer attended 19.05.26
