Culture
Live reviews
Crowded House came to Melbourne and the whole night was wonderfully uncool
The iconic band’s performance at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night was a family affair – and a poignant and potent mix of old and new.
- by Will Cox, Tony Way, Cameron Woodhead and Jessica Nicholas
Latest
Who needs the old stuff? Jack White’s new stuff is that good
Our critics review the latest shows around town.
- by Joyce Morgan and James Jennings
★★★★½
Live music
Crowd drama rocks Brisbane concert but the Killers still got soul
Back in Bris Vegas, synth-rock Las Vegans the Killers proved they’re still a world-class live act with a greatest-hits show – despite one fan collapsing and another kicked out.
- by Alex Condon
Jack White returns to the grimy intimacy of the Melbourne venue where he wrote one of his hits
Jack White, rock and roll royalty, could fill a much bigger venue than the Corner Hotel several times over – but this grimy intimacy is what he prefers.
- by Will Cox, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Cameron Woodhead, Andrew Fuhrmann and Tony Way
★★★★½
Sydney live reviews
It’s a Christmas miracle: Don’t miss this magical premiere
Our reviewers take in the latest shows around town.
- by George Palathingal, Penry Buckley, Michael Ruffles and Harriet Cunningham
What went wrong for Crowded House in the first half of their gig?
Our reviewers give their verdict on the latest shows around town.
- by Chantal Nguyen, Shamim Razavi and John Shand
Updated
Melbourne live reviews
Trump in a dumpster plus a little bit of opera? This is a Christmas show with a difference
F Christmas is a holiday variety special that delivers wildly defiant joys with a dose of reality.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Andrew Fuhrmann, Cher Tan and Tony Way
Forget Love Actually – this is the ultimate Christmas feelgood show
Our reviewers give their verdict on all the latest performances around Sydney.
- by Peter McCallum, John Shand, Shamim Razavi and Chantal Nguyen
Twist on Frankenstein transports the classic to London under Thatcher
Cruel Britannia’s atmosphere of uncanniness and threat created by gender conformity resonates with deeper truths that a more straightforward retelling might miss.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Will Cox and Nell Geraets
Angry old men: You can’t take your eyes off The Cult
Our reviewers give their verdict on the latest shows around town.
- by George Palathingal, Shamim Razavi, Peter McCallum and Penry Buckley
You don’t often see a performer of this calibre slumming it down an alleyway
Mike McLeish’s solo show, Pensive Like a Fox, is a charming and offbeat cabaret filled with off-the-wall tangents and genuine poignancy.
- by Cameron Woodhead, Tony Way, Kosa Monteith and Jessica Nicholas