Phil Collins Not Dead Yet @ RAC Arena
Monday, January 28, 2019
Before he’d even played a song, Phil Collins endeared himself to a sold out RAC Arena.
Thanking us for turning up, he quipped “It’s a Monday night in Perth, there must be plenty of other things to do,” which was greeted with knowing laughter. The Englishman’s dry humour proved a perfect icebreaker as he went on to explain that due to a back operation he would sit for the majority of the concert, but insisted he was “Not dead yet!” and with that, the show was underway.
Against all odds, here he was, out of retirement. Appropriately then he opened with Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), and immediately the sound and production were world class. Making it a one-two punch with Another Day in Paradise up next, the 67-year old former Genesis frontman had us won over in no time.
The first of two nights at RAC Arena, this was a showcase ranging from his solo bag of hits to a few Genesis throwbacks for good measure. The latter saw Throwing It All Away and the familiar strains of Follow You Follow Me drop early, while the ever-irrepressible Invisible Touch was a late highlight.
A couple of fillers through the set’s mid-section would’ve been better served by some of his M.I.A. hits such as Groovy Kind of Love, One More Night and No Son of Mine however it’s a small complaint given the smorgasbord of hits he dished up.
Separate Lives showcased a galaxy of stars in one of the more spectacular moments; 17 year old son Nicholas Collins lit up the stage filling in on drums, particularly that drum roll on In The Air Tonight which even saw Phil rise to his feet for one of the night’s most affecting moments; while the run home including his cover of the Supremes’ You Can’t Hurry Love, Easy Lover and Sussudio was all about fun pop smarts dressed to arena-style proportions that brought the crowd to their feet.
If the penultimate Sussudio was the show’s climax with its rainbow flag projections, trombone solo and confetti cannons exploding, the one song encore of Take Me Home was an appropriate number to finish on. Rounding out a comeback tale that against all odds has proven a huge success, the chance to hear that voice, which is nothing short of iconic, reminded us that Collins’ spirit is still willing, even as the flesh grows weak.
HARVEY RAE
Photos by Karen Lowe
