Longtime readers will know that while I’m passionate about all kinds of music and performers, no artist thrills me like Rob Thomas. Whether he’s solo or fronting Matchbox Twenty, he moves me like no one else. His songs have soundtracked my life from my angsty mid-teens to my relatively calmer married years, and I’m so grateful for them. I see at least two shows each tour because anything more than one feels like a bonus and I can keep those post-tour blues at bay. Right now I’m performing that delicate balancing act of extending the buzz as long as I can while rejoining the “Real World.”
While local country act Fanny Lumsden wasn’t the most natural choice of opener for a pop-rock show, she quickly won over the audience with her infectious energy and catchy songs. She led the crowd in line dances and choreographed hand movements. Seeing the sea of people in the general admission section mimicking her movements in time with these songs they likely weren’t familiar with really brought a smile to my face. So did Fanny’s brother Thomas, who may be one of the most entertaining backup vocalists I’ve ever seen. Watching the siblings dancing around together, lapping up their first-ever shows at the Enmore, was really special.
Rob’s visiting Australia to promote his new album All Night Days, but I’ll use the term promote loosely. Just four songs from the album made the set on my first show, but that was pared back to three on Rob’s final night in Sydney. He opened with the explosive “I Believe It,” which really comes alive on the stage but then preferred to play with more familiar material. It’s a wise move, guaranteed to win over an audience, but as a diehard fan who’s seen multiple shows during his career I would have loved to hear more of that fabulous fresh material.
I will say, that’s my only criticism of these shows and it’s a minor niggle outweighed by all that was overwhelmingly positive. Now that Rob has five regular solo albums and just as many Matchbox releases under his belt, he has a rich discography that allows him to mix up the sets. What a joy for the ardent fans like myself who attend multiple shows! He wasn’t afraid to deliver deep cuts either. “Not Just a Woman,” a bonus track on a limited-edition version of …Something to Be, made its unexpected Australian debut. “Rest Stop,” which I’m not even sure I’ve heard Matchbox perform, let alone Rob solo also got a beautiful acoustic treatment. These gems for the faithful were sprinkled into the set, sitting easily alongside singalong favourites like “Lonely No More,” “3 AM,” and “Smooth.” Listening to the voices, looking around at the faces in the crowd, you can see that these songs matter. For me personally, watching Rob play tracks like “Mockingbird” and “Can’t Help Me Now,” which mean so much to me and my husband, while we sit close and take in every lyric, is pure magic.
The songs are at the heart of what Rob does. There were no big screen projections, no pyrotechnics, no flash. Rob doesn’t need the bells and whistles because he is so magnetic. His banter always feels natural, his joy at playing for audiences in one of his favourite countries evident. I’m also not quite sure how he’s becoming more energetic on stage when his peers are slowing down, but I witnessed two electric performances back-to-back. He also surrounds himself with a fantastic band. While the sound crew at the Enmore didn’t always do them justice with the mix, they really are some of the best in the biz. After several tours with Rob, drummer Abe Fogle, bassist Al Carty, and keyboardist/guitarist Matt Beck are familiar faces to fans. While they all play their parts well, I was most impressed by Rob’s son Maison Thomas-Eudy. He has big shoes to fill as lead guitarist, especially when it’s time for “Smooth,” but he has all the attitude and chops of a rock star. This is no nepo hire; “The Kid” has the goods.
I am so glad that I saw two shows. During the first, I was overwhelmed with the gravity of seeing my favourite artist. There were tears. It was incredible, but I’m not sure I took everything in as much as I did on night two. I was steadier, but every bit as grateful to be in the room with Rob. Thankfully I won’t have to wait too long for his return, as he assured us he’s already planning to bring Matchbox Twenty back in 2027. Until then, I’m just going to ride this wave for as long as I can. Meeanjin/Brisbane, you get the last show of this tour. It’s at Sandstone Point Hotel on November 8. If you don’t already have tickets, general admission passes are still available through Ticketek.
Photos credit: Stephen Katulka
Rob downsized his band to a trio and delivered stripped back versions of songs, ensuring their lyrics came to the fore. It was so exciting to hear a new complexion to upbeat tracks I’d heard a couple of nights before like “This Is How a Heart Breaks” and “Lonely No More.” I also loved the chance to hear the songs that didn’t make Wednesday night’s performance. “Heaven Help Me” from The Great Unknown probably would have been lost in the electric set, but it was perfect for this more intimate evening. “Sunday Morning, New York Blue,” a track lifted not from an album but the Someday EP, was another welcome new addition.
Anyone who’s read this blog for a while knows I love an acoustic show. Jumping around and dancing to a band turned up to 11 is a blast, but it rarely moves me as much as sitting down listening to songs stripped back to their core. Add in personal stories about the origin of those songs and I’m sold. I’ve seen Rob Thomas perform many times, and I’m sure I’ll see him many more, but Friday night’s acoustic show is the one that will stand out from the rest. It was perfection.
I wondered whether in a week that was sadly shrouded in controversy I could expect the same energy and fun from Rob, but as he burst out with “Give Me the Meltdown,” a high-energy number from Cradlesong. It left no doubt that we were all there to have a good time, and that’s just what we did. In fact, I think I might have had the most fun I’ve ever had at a Rob Thomas show, and believe me there have been a few. Rob kept the energy up with “Fallin’ to Pieces,” “Lonely No More,” and “Her Diamonds.” I marvelled at the song choices, a wonderful mix of the numbers everyone knew and the tracks near and dear to the heart of the fans who buy the albums.
So as I watched the show last night, there was none of that sadness I usually get, because this tour’s not over for me. Tomorrow night I get to do it all again, with Rob playing a more intimate, stripped back set, so he informed us. I am so thrilled that this concert high gets to last a little longer. Rob’s going to have to pull out something special to top last night’s gig, but I’m sure he’s up to the task.
