It is extremely evident of the deep connection that Damien Rice has between his music and fans, and this was on show at its peak during his intimate Melbourne performance at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda.
The darkening of the house lights, the pre-show announcements, and starting drone sounds introduced an almost other-worldly feeling, almost with an expectation of a big reveal of a wall of sound, light and pyrotechnics. The actual beginning, however, was the sole figure of Damien Rice, crouched humbly at the front of the stage of the rather grandiose looking Palais Theatre. Wearing a beanie and clinging to his guitar, he could almost be mistaken for a busker who accidentally walked into the theatre venue.
For those unfamiliar with Rice’s sound, as I was before attending this concert, he is an Irish singer-songwriter, with a mostly acoustic guitar sound, complemented by personal storytelling through his emotional lyrics.
As fans will tell you, no two Damien Rice concerts are the same and we were treated to a varied selection from his discography.
During the quieter moments, the Melbourne audience held their silence perfectly, obviously having a deep respect for Rice and his sound. In these moments, one could imagine his voice and guitar would be able to carry throughout the auditorium without a microphone. His vocals impressed, especially in the moments of his sustained notes, such as with the song, ‘The Professor and La Fille Danse’.
For ‘Volcano’, Rice was joined on stage by cellist and vocalist Francisca Barreto, a singer-songwriter in her own right, originally from Brazil and touring with Rice for several years. Her vocals and cello beautifully paired with Rice’s music.
Other songs like ‘Coconut Skin’, provided a more upbeat and freer lighter feel to the evening. Rice also made use of a distortion effect on his voice to add a gravitas and a grounded feeling to some tracks.
Melbourne fans were also ready for his banter in between songs, as Rice playfully described some of his life experiences, and of how this tour mainly came about from his tour manager wanting to come see the Australian Open. He even provided the audience updates on the score of the game that night (the women’s finals).
Rice also mentioned how on the last Australia tour, although he can’t remember why, he must have been “in a bad mood” and did not talk at all, whereas at this concert he “was in good form” and happily poked fun at latecomers and explained the meaning and history behind some of his works.
The stage lighting, while simple, was perfectly suited to Rice’s style of music. Many times, it was used to create simple silhouettes on stage to let the music shine through, or to complement the music by acting light a lighthouse or heartbeat alongside the songs.
Rice is known for his ever-evolving setlist and does not plan all of the exact tracks or order they are played in on his tours. This was something existing fans were well aware of, jumping-in in between songs to yell out their song requests, from in front of the stage to the very back row of the upper level. Some requests were played, and other times Rice told us he was going to “play a song no one asked for”.
Damien Rice had a selection of instruments, mostly guitars, but also a piano, ready to go for whatever would come. At one point, he picked up and put down all of them trying to tease the audience over which song request he would be playing next.
During ‘Back To Her Man’, the Melbourne crowd became a powerful choir, directed by Rice, echoing the chorus. It was fantastic to see the level of participation, again emphasising the passion that Melbourne fans have for the beloved and talented musician.
Rice ended the main set with the popular ‘The Blower’s Daughter’, before returning for an encore of ‘Cold Water’, transitioning into part of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’. The final song ‘Behind Those Eyes’ had Rice invite the audience to leave their seats and gather around the front of the stage, forming one last personal connection before the night was over.
It is clear how much fans connected to Damien Rice’s stories told in songs, as well as his directness and humour. I heard patrons around me laughing, crying, and simply sitting in silence being one with the music. Rice’s songs have evidently seeped their way deeply into people’s lives, and many Melbourne attendees that night thoroughly appreciated the chance to see and hear them performed live and connect in person.
Having never witnessed a Damien Rice concert before, this was a whole new experience for me. Perhaps even more intriguing than the performance itself was the audience reactions. The atmosphere was such a unique one that I hadn’t seen nor felt at other concerts before. Damien Rice’s impressive talent and signature sound with his vocals and guitar, alongside the attentiveness and deep passion from his Melbourne fans, made for one very special evening.
Damien Rice performed in Melbourne at the Palais Theatre on Saturday the 25th of January 2025, as part of his Australia and New Zealand 2025 Tour, proudly presented by Frontier Touring. His mostly sold-out tour continues in Bendigo, Canberra, Thirroul, Sydney and Newcastle, concluding the Australian leg in Brisbane, before heading over to play his New Zealand leg in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.frontiertouring.com/damienrice
https://damienrice.com
Photography by Ryan Jiannas.
