GRACE JONES, Palais Theatre, Melbourne Feb 26
Tonight can be only aptly described as a spiritual experience… nothing else could come close… a long time unchecked tick box for me finally received closure this evening at the Palais Theatre when over the course of nearly two hours we were challenged to even try and keep up with the 70 year old ‘Amazing Grace’ Jones… A stunning opening with her poised high above the stage adorned in Gold Skull mask for a cover of the Igster’s ‘Nightclubbing’…
Her cover of Chrissie Hyndes’ “Private Life” was ascerbic and biting…
We got costume changes after every song… with hilarious accapella crowd singalongs with her from deep in the shadows… as she hurried to don the next outfit… at times it was theatre with a touch of humour… exhibit #1? A massive spliff and a large, suitably black apendage for ‘My Jamaican Guy’…
she became the conductress with two large Sabian cymbals which she clashed together for ‘Warm Leatherette’…
the Hula Hoop Queen for ‘Slave to the Rhythm…’
A taunting black billowing sail for ‘Hurricane’…
To the guy training the huge industrial fan onto her from the wings…”Is that ALL you got?”
La Vie En Rose was delivered flawlessly…
She chided those of us in the first few front rows with a big pointy stick during the self-explanatory ‘Williams’ Blood’…
“Why don’t you be a Jones like your Sister and your brother Noel
When are you gonna be a Jones your just like your Dad God bless his soul”
“I know I’m supposed to wear something to cover these up (gesturing to her bare breasts) but it’s too f***** hot!” After the initial shock of seeing Grace in her altogether…. hand painted in beautiful white lineal graphics from head to toe save for a brown bodice… you very quickly moved on to the essence of her performance… she was undeniably magnetic…. you just couldn’t take your eyes away… and I totally forgot watching her, that she is 70 years old… how is this even possible???
She even shared some personal stuff with us….’Im crazy as hell…so don’t EVEN TRY to out-crazy me… because you will never win… hahahaha)”
She also treated us to a brand new song which she said has been recorded but not yet released. The setlist reveals it’s called ‘Shenanigans’ and even on first hearing, it’s a bona-fide ripper of a track.
She was in a super jovial mood…There were more than a few call outs backstage for top ups of a great local red wine… And after a couple of glasses, someone backstage thought she’d had enough…
“Urggg…That’s not wine…. that’s Coke… but the wrong kind… (laughter) bring me more wine… I promise I won’t get drunk… They’re probably back there drinking it all…!”
During “Pull Up To The Bumper” she was carried on a stagehand’s shoulders…all the way through the audience up across the centre and back safely to the stage – much to the delight of punters who loved seeing their Grace up close and personal……
During ‘Love is the Drug’ she donned the glittery top hat and stood under overhead lasers which then pinged all the audience… the theatrics were simple, and stunning.
There was little of the Diva on show tonight. She took the time to thank everyone, and I mean everyone, all of whom seemed genuinely delighted to be acknowledged and more than that, ‘to be part of her family’… She expressed many times what a great time she was having and it showed in her performance and in the faces of all those lucky enough to be at tonight’s show… Rock on Grace… may you have many more nights like this ahead of you… <3
So pleased I got to share it with great mates who truly get it.
