0
0
Gold Coast Convention Centre 8th April 2025
Celebrating twenty years of any album, which also achieved a reissue status unarguably earns industry respect. That it stands the test of both time and popularity is a measure that many artists either aspire to achieve – or perspire even trying to get close.
In 1989 an Australian a doo-wop group transformed themselves from 4 Trax into a clever recreation we now know as Human Nature. In this schoolmate bathroom block quartet, brothers Mike and Andrew Tierney, Toby Allen, and Phil Burton embryonically stretched out to establish a sound which ticked as many boxes as possible. Human Nature embarked on their 2025 tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their fifth studio album, “Reach Out: The Motown Record”
Aptly named either to save time and money on huge stage prop letters, it was called Human Nature MTWN20. Likewise, later in the show, HNJKBX lit up. (Human Nature Jukebox) All this at the superb Gold Coast Convention Centre on a Tuesday night.
The Tierney Brothers were the Support Act. Leg-pulling the audience, saying that the support didn’t show – so they had to fill in!
Actually, the Gold Coast show was the 3rd last show. Brisbane on the Wednesday night became 2nd last and Sydney will see the very last event in Australia, before they head back to Las Vegas to continue the tour and pick up their residency at one of the Casinos once more.
Gold Coast’s venue held a very vocal audience captive. What’s not to enjoy from a neutral standpoint? However, when your favourite Aussie boy band matures by a musical metamorphic process – as if they started out as some other type of rock and pop, but have substantially changed from their original form, converting under heat and pressure, you notice things.
But we knew back then Human Nature were more than just good, right? We sent the album eventually through to the #1 spot on the ARIA charts, didn’t we?
So, Tuesday night – and correct me if I’m wrong – felt like unique confirmation of our belief in them and a thinly veiled “thankyou” from the boys to us.
An aural and visual smorgasbord. A melodic ambience, which was almost edible, it sounded so good. Australian audiences are particular in the way they view professionalism on stage. A little too much “Vegas” in the production and it is regarded as slick, unpalatable in a way. But there was no risk of this here.
Human Nature entertained us like no other. They popped up in the back rows – met us in the aisles, sang back catalogue to us and treated us – their loyal fans, as friends not security risks. All caught on a roving camera and sent to a full screen format.
And if there’s room for a possible last observation, Human Nature’s outrageously beautiful harmonies gave this Gold Coast audience an endorphin overload of happiness! We gave them back the applause they need to cherish.
Photography by Michelle Cop
Review by Stu Robertson
Human Nature MTWN20 Tour
Support Act
Tierney Brothers
