I still have moments where I feel like pinching myself when I see shows at the Art House. I’ve travelled to Sydney several times to catch Anthony Callea, so it was a real treat to have him make the journey to the Central Coast this time around.
The show lived up its Unplugged and Unfiltered. Perhaps it was a little too unfiltered for the ears of my 12-year-old niece, although if you’d ask her those racy anecdotes made the night more fun. The stories came thick and fast, as did the songs stripped back and laid bare. Anthony’s voice is always in fine form, but without a full band to hide any flaws it was even more impressive. If you don’t get goose bumps listening to him deliver “The Prayer” I’d check for a pulse. He may have outdiva-ed Whitney with his mash-up of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “How Will I Know?” It was also a real thrill for the long-time fans to hear earlier material like “Rain” and “Addicted to You” in the set. I also loved seeing him so connected to his new single “What’s Wrong With Me?”
Anthony seemed to be having a ball on stage, appreciating the unfiltered format perhaps a little too much. The anecdotes may have dragged a little for punters there simply for the music, but I felt the laughs beautifully balanced the very emotional songs that made up the bulk of Anthony’s set. Perhaps the Art House should have posted a sign about sexual references and coarse language at the theatre doors, as they did for Hair though!
Even though those stories made my mum serving grandma duties blush, it all added up to such a fun night, a fitting introduction to the world of live music for my young niece. Even if she has learned a few things we didn’t expect!
Image source: own photo