Rob Thomas
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As a band, Matchbox Twenty attracted fans of all different ages. Stepping out on his own, Rob Thomas' first solo tour of Australia appeared to be no different.
To one side of me were an elderly couple, discussing how they hoped no one would stand up and block their view, and on the other side, a group of exciteable teenage girls holding onto their seats in anticipation. The old couple were in trouble from the outset, with the catchy new hit, 'Something to Be', the perfect opener.
Throughout the night there were mainly tracks from Thomas' solo album, but there was also classic Matchbox Twenty thrown in for the diehards. As expected, the crowd responded well to the solo radio hits, 'Lonely No More' and 'Ever The Same', while slower versions of 'Push' and '3am', had the Matchbox Twenty fans cheering. Rob also produced some unlikely cover songs, including an impressively different performance of Oasis' 1995 chart-topper, 'Wonderwall', slowed down and dedicated to an earlier on-stage wedding proposal. However, perhaps the biggest cheer/scream/whistle of the night was saved for the song that made Rob Thomas a household name, as 'Smooth' was greeted with thunderous noise, which had me feeling sorry for the couple next to me once more.
Of course, the obvious comparision between Matchbox Twenty and 'Rob Thomas & Band' is going to be in the back of an audience members mind. I found that as far as a good performance and sound goes, there was basically no difference. Perhaps this proves that Matchbox Twenty really was just Rob Thomas with another band. Or perhaps it's from the fact that, while the band was there, you didn't really feel like you were watching just a solo artist.
But when the lights went down and Rob and band left, a lone spotlight lit centre stage, and everyone knew that it was time for the solo performer to shine.
After a two hour showcase of his songwriting and vocal talents, Rob Thomas closed the night solo, with an energetic performance of 'This Is How A Heart Breaks', which had everyone on their feet, even the old couple.
