0
0
Macy Gray
Hamer Hall
In 1999 we saw the rise of Britney Spears, The Matrix and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. It also saw the release of Macy Gray’s ‘ On How Life Is’ and the release of the popular single ‘ I Try’.
Twenty five years have passed, and tonight Macy Gray is on the hallowed stage of Hamer Hall. Fashionably late, Gray rushes out onto the stage dressed in a 1950s style hounds tooth dress. Opening with ‘Why Didn’t You Call Me’ her raspy sensual voice is perfection.
Moving through the album’s first three tracks with quick succession, Gray is all smiles as she sways in time with the music, inviting the audience into her world. She frequently refers to the crowd as sexy, asking the audience to sing back to her as she soaks in the atmosphere.
Diverting from the album song list, Gray skips ‘ I Try’ and instead goes into a sultry version of Boney M’s ‘ Sunny’, turning the song into an almost jazz mournful version, rather than the bubblegum pop original. It is unique, melancholy and sheer brilliance. She then takes on the classic Radiohead song ‘ Creep’, and her unique vocal range makes her version better than the original.
Taking a short break, she returns to the stage in a gorgeous ostrich trimmed blue dress and green heels. Launching into ‘ Relating to a Psychopath’ she gets the crowd up and dancing, finally letting loose. There is a disco vibe through the next few songs, and the crowd is enjoying the spontaneous dancing.
Wrapping up with her hit ‘ I Try’ the audience sway along in time to the song, camera torches creating an atmosphere that is something to behold. Towards the final chorus, she asks the crowd to repeat it so she can make a video for her Mum. Moved to tears she soaks in the atmosphere of the voices singing back to her.
Macy Gray is a joy to watch, she engages the crowd, makes us laugh and draws us into a world where she sings of obsessive love, abuse, sex, passion and does it all with a sweet sultry perfection that is both unique and endearing. As she leaves us with ‘The Letter’ and a snippet of her new song ‘ I AM’ the crowd files out of the room humming the catchy new tune. Once again, Macy Gray has proven to Melbourne audiences what an utter delight she is to witness live.
Words by Amanda Lee Starkey
