This tour when it was announced was always going to be one of my gig highlights for 2025. Did I anticipate just how good this show would be? Absolutely not. Tonight was a superb three-hour musical experience. Three hours you say. Yes, three hours if you include Australian shore first timer Chase Matthew and his band. Just how good was this show well let me tell you all about it.
The original time slots got moved back from their original notified schedule and that’s Ok except for what left me a little puzzled. Who exactly is Chase Matthews? Was he the Sydney DJ that played a set of bangers to a filling arena; at first, I thought so. While DJing to a filling arena must be a challenge, the DJ did a fair job and I’m not one to knock a bit of pre gig entertainment. He certainly got the audiences voices warmed up, but in all honesty, I couldn’t see what the fuss was. Initially I was a little disappointed that this was all that Mr. Urban could come up with as an opener given his exposure to so much talent not only through what he does on The Voice, but through the emerging artists he must be introduced to on a daily basis, surely there had to be something better than a DJ to warm up the crowd and much to my delight there was.
Chase Matthew and his band exceeded everything I had expected. At twenty-seven years of age this young man has what I believe to be a very bright future. The band behind him simply electrifying. I love these moments where you discover a talent/talents like this out of the blue. It’s hard to fathom that Chase Matthews only started his recorded career back in 2019. With a slew of singles, two Ep’s and three albums to his name this journey has been a complete treat to visit today. Yes, I went down the rabbit hole and am so glad I did. The journey has been a great one and live he is simply captivating. It must be one of the toughest things to step on stage to an audience that barely knows you, in a country you haven’t been to before and win over a crowd. Chase Matthews and his band did just that and I’m sure they left with a lot of new fans.
From the groovy, swagger filled stomp of ‘Drives My Truck’ I was instantly engaged. Part country, part rock, part blues this song is just the perfect opener. It did what it needed to, it pulled me in and had me guessing what was coming next. ‘Pull Up’ is one of those polished modern country pop songs that just feels good, it makes you feel good; mission accomplished.
‘No Way Around It’ is country with enough hooks and power pop rock sensibilities to have you tapping your foot. Three songs in and I still can’t put a bow on his style, I can’t compare him to anyone, but what I do know is that this batch of songs are extremely well written, catchy as hell and of a quality that should be beyond an average twenty-seven-year-olds ability to write, deliver and create. He and his songs remind me of some of my favourite song writers of the last quarter of a century, but that seems to be the influence of the Nashville writer’s scene. No wonder he and his band have been picked to open a tour of this calibre.
The one thing that is evident is this band simply rocks. They have their feet firmly planted in rock n roll and Matthews is the same as he and the band delivered a medley of songs that obviously influenced them all, while it was fun it wasn’t the highlight of the set for me it was the original songs that at first listen had me paying some serious attention to them. Matthews rolled through a collection of earlier singles like a combine harvester in a field, on a mission to hook us all in, and that is what he and his band did. Energy, fun and one hell of a party was being had on the stage. How could you not be
Matthews has one of those voices that has that Nashville soul and twang to it, it’s versatile enough to deliver a smooth modern RnB performance and has all the power of rock n roll. As a frontman he looks so at home on the big stage and knowing that Keith Urban gave Matthews and band full run of the stage is something the band unashamedly took advantage of. Work the crowd they certainly did and stop their set when a fan needed assistance they did without hesitation only to kick back off once assistance had been given. Matthews and band look so damn comfortable on stage as if they were born for it.
While I was in the seats on the side and not on the floor, it was undeniable there was and energy that resonated with the fast-filling arena. It reached and engaged me and others around me as the band delivered one hell of a set. No wonder they have been the supports worldwide for the High and Alive Tour. It’s a shame that major commercial radio has its head in the sand these days and is genuinely afraid to explore what’s out there, Chase Matthews is the perfect example of what should be the new generation of household musical names. In many ways I’m blessed that I get to see performances like this, I always make an effort to turn up early and see the supports and from that I get to share what I discover, spreading the word of talent as far as I possibly can. It’s my way of thanking these supremely talented artists.
Setlist : Drives My Truck, Pull Up, No Way Around It, Medley: Back In Black/Give It Away/ Killing In The Name/You Shook Me All Night Long, County Line, We All Grow Up, Born For This, Small Town Shit, Cha Cha Slide, Darlin’, Love You Again.
Keith Urban, we all know him, we all love him. It’s that simple. He is a superstar globally and he has never forgotten his roots and where his musical journey began, Queensland, Australia. Urban is one of the few artists that has a truly genuine and humble personality, there seems to be no airs and graces about him, just a good guy with sublime musical talent. A talent that he doesn’t take for granted. His fan base is fierce and loyal, I must admit that ever since 2002’s “Golden Road” album I have been a fan. Let’s face it a great song is a great song regardless of genre and country rock when I embraced myself in his music it was far from my listening focus. Never being one to shy away from expanding his sound and style it is for good reason Urban has had a solo career that is thirty-five years young and shows no signs of slowing down. He has touched on so many styles yet has remained true to himself. As the white sheet that projected Urbans back lit silhouette dropped Rod Laver Arena became a frenzy of screams as what seemed like everyone taking to their feet. ‘Straight Line’ from 2024’s “High” album was the perfect opener and backing it up with ‘Where The Blacktop Ends’ from the self-titled debut let you know we were about to travel through his incredible career. We got all of that and then some. This two-hour, twenty-six song set was just perfect and left you wanting more and I am sure if time permitted, he simply could have played all night.
Tonight, Keith Urban was having the time of his life. Interacting with the audience. Urbans love of his fans is obvious, every person an opportunity for connection. Having only a small amount of room for his video crew to move and work in directly in front of the stage allowed Urban to do just that. After ‘When The Blacktop Ends’ Urban too to the stages side ramps to chat with fans, asking if anyone was having a Birthday today to which Rod Laver Arena roared, “Sure there are 1200 of you celebrating a Birthday today” joked Urban. He then struck up a conversation with a fan that had travelled from Western Australia, whose Birthday was today, Urban struck up conversation and obliged to the birthday girls wish of a selfie. Next Urban talked with a fan who entered a competition to travel to Australia from Nashville to see the show. She mentioned although she didn’t win said what the hell and tonight, she had made the long trek to be here tonight. Urban was clearly humbled by this and truly appreciative of his fans.
His address of regardless of what’s going on in your life, we are here to forget about the outside world for the next two hours and that’s what we did. We were taken on an incredible songbook journey of his work. The set of hits just comes one after the other and the synergy between Urban and his band is flawless, they interact so naturally and genuinely love being there and were having just as much fun as we all were, Urban breaking into little bursts of laughter sometimes mid lyric said it all. The smiles were massive all round and the energy electrifying. While Keith Urban has a stellar band behind him, it doesn’t take too long be pulled into his guitar playing. Watching how both hands create textures and sounds, witnessing his technique and adept relationship he has with his guitar is just sublime.
Eight songs in and Urban launches a curve ball at us, what a fun curveball it is to be thrown. Paying homage to Australian icons The Angels, Urban and Co tore through a killer version of ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ to which a now full Rod Laver Arena replied to his call the only way it can be loud and proud. It’s in moments like this that you genuinely understand Keith Urbans love and connection to the roots of his Australian musical heritage. The band is just on fire, and they have so much fun delivering this show. The production is clean and slick, moving parts creating scapes for the music, this is an amazing production. The video team Urban has with him are incredible and know exactly what to catch. There were so many moments and frames that captured the incredibly personal, human interactions and moments. The sound, oh my god, it was perfect regardless of where you were in the arena.
Urban’s band consisting of some of America’s finest as well as some incredible homegrown talent were on point paving the road for tonight’s musical expedition. Leading that expedition were rhythm section Kevin MacIntyre (Bass/backing Vocals) and Jimmy Paxton (Drums) who were so locked in delivering grooves all night as they paved the foundation of tonight’s playground. Josh Kearney (Guitars/Banjo) put the polish on the set’s delivery. Fiddle player and Lake MacQuarie (NSW) resident Gabi Louise is the most recent addition to the band and what an incredible role she played tonight, upfront and centre with Urban, Louise looked like she had been there forever and not just three weeks, she is a talent of which I am sure we will all learn to know of, she has so much talent to offer. For me tonight it was Katie Ohh whose guitar playing and backing vocals just blew me away. Her presence is huge and when it came time to step up and take on Carrie Underwood’s part in duet ‘The Fighter’ she simply owned the song and if I’m honest did a better job than Underwood. Man, this is one hell of a show.
‘Somebody Like You’ took me back to where my appreciation of Keith began, and live what an absolute treat, delivered with such precision. I must admit I sang every damn word along with Rod Laver Arena. When I speak of production, the one song that was always going to be a tough one to deliver would have to have been ‘One To Many’, the duet with Pink, but though the screens on the stage we had pink seamlessly integrated into the song with her parts being delivered via video. There is something special when you can almost feel an artist in your presence but know they were not even in the same country or time zone. This was perfectly executed and added magic to the song. Another highlight for me. Taking to the crowd Urban made his way around the venue floor outskirts hi fiving as many fans as he could, stopping for the odd selfie all the while still delivering a performance that most on their best night might fail to give.
Taking to a small platform at the rear of Rod Laver Arena he addresses the back of the room “now your front row!!” and the rest of you are backstage. Performing ‘Pink Pony Club’ and ‘You’ll Think Of Me’ from the platform, just Urban and his acoustic was chilling, I can only imagine how special it was for the back of the arena. The big stage lights were gone, just four light towers, a man and his music. One luck fan being rewarded with his played guitar that he quick signed before handing it off as the ultimate souvenir for a fan. Returning to the stage by doing the rounds of the other side of the floor Urban continued with the high fives and selfies. Once back on stage it was just Urban, his guitar and an ample handful of songs stripped back and perfectly delivered. It was so stripped back and personal it almost took you to a place where you were seeing him in an intimate venue solo like a local bar, raw, exciting and personal. His rendition of John Farnhams ‘Burn For You’ was simply chilling.
There was no ego, no rock star persona, just a man, his talent and a songbook that provoked so many emotions. ‘Making Memories Of Us’ was magical, and the longstanding set favourite cover of David Dundas’ ‘Jeans On’ was a blast too. Closing out the set with a killer version of New Radicals ‘You Get What You Give’ was perfect and done so well. Given what I had just witnessed for the last two hours, how could anything but incredible come from the stage. What those that stayed until the very end and saw was really special; the house lights came up and standing on stage was a performer that was and is so grateful for his fans. Urban took so much time out to shake hands, sign whatever was thrown at him, pose for selfies; that was inspiring, humble, real, human and such a genuine thing to do. Tonight’s show was all about connection, a connection to the man himself, his music and his stories. To be drawn into the world like we were tonight is surreal, I haven’t experienced anything like it before. In an arena of thousands you felt like Keith Urban was playing just for you and that there is some serious magic.
Setlist : Straight Line, Where The Blacktop Ends, Long Hot Summer, Messed Up As Me, Parallel Line, Better Life, You Look Good In My Shirt, Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face, Somewhere In My Car, Cop Car, Days Go By, ‘Til Summer Comes Around, Heart Like A Hometown, Kiss A Girl/Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me, The Fighter, Somebody Like You, One Too Many, Pink Pony Club, You’ll Think Of Me, Blue Ain’t Your Colour, Wasted Time, Burn For You, Making Memories Of Us, Jeans On, Tonight I Wanna Cry, You Get What You Give.
The Rockpit would like to thank Nicole at Revolutions per Minute & TEG Live for the media access.
All photos by Shot by Slaidins
