Review: Darren Hayes opening night at Liverpool 02 Academy

After a four year break from live performance, from the moment charismatic Aussie singer Darren Hayes took to the stage, the heaving throng were eating out of the palm of his hand.

Promised to be the first of four 'intimate' gigs, the clammy air at opening night for the former Savage Garden frontman was alive with anticipation.

Enveloped by complete darkness, save for the glowing purple light of an umbrella held aloft, Hayes launched into 'Taken By The Sea' - the hypnotic first track from new album "Secret Codes and Battleships." Given that the record will not be unleashed on the general public until Monday, Darren knew how to make his Liverpool audience feel special. Welcoming fans, he confirmed our status as an exceedingly lucky bunch, asserting that some of the tracks about to be witnessed were previously unheard "by any other human beings."

Hayes dressed to impress in a smart black suit, and die hard fans will have spotted the purple heart fixed to the back of his jacket, no doubt part of a running themed hunt for 'secret codes' Darren has encouraged online in the build up to the album release.

Easing in his less fanatical followers, Darren performed latest single Talk Talk Talk, a catchy tune which grows on the listener with every repeat of the chorus. Onto the evening's more nostalgic tracks, next came the gratifyingly familiar chords of To The Moon and Back. A surefire winner with fans old and new and amidst the increasingly sweaty conditions in the O2 Academy the mood instantly lifted as the crowd belted out the lyrics at their Australian hero.

Slipping between old and new tracks effortlessly, Hayes turned the temperature up a notch and near sent the crowd into meltdown with his sizzling falsetto in love song Insatiable, quickly followed by powerful new track Bloodstained Heart and old favourite Strange Relationship. In a gratifying return to Savage Garden's heyday, Hayes performed quirky track The Animal Song live for the first time in twelve years. Admittedly, some crowd members looked fairly bemused, while energetic fans became lost in the moment, "careless and free" while declaring a desire to live like animals.

Over the extensive two-hour set, Hayes playfully altered previous hits, mixing Break Me Shake Me's lyrics with the instantly recognisable hook from Billie Jean by Michael Jackson before turning the lights down to don a pair of glowing green sunglasses and a Jedi lightsabre-esque walking cane to perform effervescent track Popular, echoing the chorus from iconic 80s classic 'When Will I Be Famous' by Bros.

Then, in an unusual and bold move, Darren disappeared behind a back-lit screen to apply Harlequin clown make-up to perform an old-school cabaret track during which, it must be said, the crowd seemed to lose focus. But Hayes' humour soon shifted as he re-captured our imagination, sitting facing the audience at a makeshift mirror, as if alone in a dressing room, slowly removing his "clown" make up. Undoubtedly the highlight of the gig for me, returning to un-rivalled form as he sang an emotionally-charged rendition of I Don't Know You Anymore, an album track from Affirmation album which truly tugs at the heart strings. It is moments such as this that assert Hayes as a performer not to be dismissed as a mere 'pop star', he has matured somewhat in recent years and so has his music.

Moving into the final part of the set, Hayes pumped up the crowd with the gleefully energetic Crush (1980 Me) and 90s hit I Want You before the inevitable encore as Hayes was actually drowned out by the hoarse-throated crowd for the signature ballad he'll never shake off (and why would he?) - Truly Madly Deeply.

Filtering slowly out of the sweat-soaked venue, spirits lifted, the buzzing crowd enthused about the unique and intensely intimate gig - Hayes certainly delivers on his promises.

9/10

Tickets for Secret Codes and Battleships are available at http://Gigsandtours.com or 24hr cc hotline 0844 811 0051.

Darren will release his fourth studio album "Secret Codes and Battleships" this Monday, October 17th.

Tour Dates:

16th Oct Glasgow O2 ABC (£25.00)

18th Oct Birmingham O2 Academy2 (£25.00)

19th Oct London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (£28.50)

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