“Dangerous” was the one that got Perth Arena going, but it was Marie who got Perth Arena on its feet…

Roxette start the evening with the rockin’ of “Sleeping in My Car” followed up with “The Big L.” appropriate for Valentine’s Day, a hard pop number which when played live has a life of its own. An acoustic version of “Spending My Time,” not quite just an introduction as the song came to life in full band performance, lead and backing vocals from the crowd for this one as Per Gessle conducted the crowd from the stage.

The title track from their 1994 album Crash! Boom! Bang! stated off in slightly different way to those who are familiar with the song, usually Marie takes the lead but Per started off the vocals, it was a two part performance Marie started off the second half and it was her from then on. Some more recent songs like “Crush On You” and “She’s Got Nothing On (But the Radio) were for some hardcore fans but Roxette perform them with such energy that the live performances clearly have outdone its studio recordings.

“The Heart Shaped Sea,” a folk style song from their 1992 album Tourism, had not been played live much and had been added for this tour said Per Gessle just as the back of the stage became a star covered night sky.

Marie Fredriksson had the stage to herself, a single spot light that faded to a light pink and then she was joined by fellow band member Dea Norberg on keyboards and backing vocals for a song from 1991’s Joyride which Marie wrote called “Watercolours in the Rain,” a reflective song that has come full circle for Roxette.

Joined again by the rest of the band for the thundering of “Fading Like a Flower” which went down a storm, Perth Arena then was on its feet for the fast and rhythmic “How Do You Do!.”

“It Must Have Been Love” originally a Christmas song in Sweden from 1987… but was more well known from the soundtrack of Pretty Woman from 1990, more lead and backing vocals from the crowd for this one. “Dressed for Success” was straight in there and Marie had everyone clapping in perfect time and rhythm, but wow “Dangerous” was straight in after and it was the one that got them going, everyone seemed to be singing with such power and energy, Marie feeding from it gave her all as Perth Arena came alive.

Per Gessle wishing to introduce the other talented members of Roxette, of whom the night would not have been possible without, one of which was their album producer Clarence Öfwerman who has been with Roxette since the beginning in 1986. Continuing with “Joyride” which to most people is a pop tune, was almost turned into a rock/funk/pop anthem for the crowd and it was a mighty sing along too.

Darkness! which always comes before the encore, kicked off with “Almost Unreal” from 1993 a pop/rock number that some may have forgotten about, then “Listen to Your Heart” from late 1989, this had all the audience singing right through as Roxette closed the show with the song that started their international success… “The Look,” Marie, Per the whole band and the stage came to life as the night came to its end…

The seven members of Roxette joined each other along the front of the stage to take their bow before their people, thanked them for joining them for the show, wished them well and to take care of each other.

The XXX 30th Anniversary Tour continues…