Sam Smith
11th November 2023
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.
It’s Saturday night, the weather is stunning, and Tāmaki Makaurau almost seems to shimmer as thousands of attendees make their way towards Spark Arena to witness the incomparable Sam Smith on the final show this year of their Gloria tour.
Laying the foundations of what would be a sumptuous night of honesty, humility and human expression, Australian singer songwriter Meg Mac had the prestigious honour of opening the night. And what an act to begin with.
Dressed in an oversized suit jacket, her two back-up singers (Hannah her sister and Danielle who is almost “like her sister”) coordinating their outfits along with her, and the dutiful Harry on keys, Meg Mac delivered a set that was strikingly powerful.
Opening with ‘Every Lie’, Mac immediately proved why she was worthy of being chosen as the support act; her sultry and effortless vocal style, ensuring that focus remained on her throughout her set.
The harmonies between the three women were superb, ‘Maybe It’s my First Time’ delivering a far more upbeat and bluesy feel, tambourines layered in throughout the melody. Speaking of how the next track ‘Letter’ was about a piece of correspondence that Mac should have written a long time ago, and maybe the day would come when they finally will, it was obvious that Mac wrote from the heart.
Mac’s cover of the Bill Withers track ‘Grandma’s Hands’ was wonderfully spiritual, and as she finished with ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ and phone lights lit up around the room, it was obvious to see that Mac had quickly captured more than just a few new admirers.
As the arena plunged into darkness for the second time in the evening, screams of delightful anticipation pierced the air, New Zealand fans never ones to shy away from vocalising their excitement and appreciation of what they are about to witness.
A figure in gold soon emerged and gracefully strode across the stage, approaching what appeared to be a large satin cloud shape laid across the floor. With a single movement of the arm, that cloud was magically drawn away to reveal a phenomenal gold Aphrodite in repose, the four-piece band and three back up singers entering and taking up position before Sam Smith strode out in a satin ensemble with a diamante encrusted Ed Marler corset suspended from their shoulders.
Opening with ‘Stay with Me’, Smith enraptured the audience, their vocals strong and pure, their immediate connection with the people in the room intoxicating as they smiled, waved and winked at the front rows before them. As old favourites, ‘I’m Not the Only One’ and ‘Like I Can’ serenaded the crowd, Smith took the time to candidly speak of how New Zealand has always been their favourite country to visit since first coming here at the tender age of twenty-one and that their appreciation of the aroha they have always felt was something they held dear.
Encouraging everyone to have fun, to dance and to possibly get naked should they so feel like it (tongue firmly planted in cheek), Smith spoke of how heartbreak and loss was something that everybody would experience, but that no matter how much it hurt, one could move forward from it and ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’ brought more than a few tears as voices raised in unison to sing the poignant lyrics.
While this opening quartet of songs already showed just why Smith is at the top of their game, nothing would have prepared anyone present for the sheer unadulterated freedom of expression that was soon to come.
Gloria is a show split into three acts entitled Love, Beauty and Sex, and that is exactly what was delivered; the evening divided into both an artfully and thoughtfully choreographed journey that Smith has embarked on both musically and personally.
The first act LOVE included tracks such as ‘Diamonds’, ‘How Do You Sleep?’ and the moving ‘Dancing with a Stranger’ the trials and tribulations of that glorious and at times devastating emotion that is the deep affection for another human soul captured within the lyricism.
Smith, an ever present and engaged performer of course taking moments to pause and address the audience, their humour and spirit punctuating the set with small anecdotes and tinges of humour as they lamented how gorgeous they looked but how hot they were or how this last show was number sixty-nine of the year and how “fitting” that seemed.
The second act of BEAUTY opened with a breathtaking cover of Des’ree’s ‘Kissing You’, Smith making it their own and displaying some true vocal prowess, their jaw dropping Christian Cowan dress that looked like molten silver poured over a bed of white taffeta heavenly.
Costume changes are something that feature heavily throughout the show, and embodied the themes of the songs perfectly, the ever-evolving landscape of both Smiths life and personality as they discover who they are and how they fit into this world proclaimed in the clothing itself.
The second act ushered in a shift in tone as dancers soon joined the stage and Smith moved from anthemic declarations of adoration such as ‘Lay Me Down’ into the uninhibited territory of wants and desires with ‘Gimme’, their troupe of aforementioned dancers soon burning up the stage as they grinded against each other and Smith themselves.
While the Gloria tour has indeed incurred much clutching of pearls and accusations of vulgarity from some, what they have failed to recognise is that everything that is both shown and sung about is exactly what it is to be a human. Love, lust, wants and desires; the physicality of the human form and how each of us chooses to use it when in the company of another is both unique and shared simultaneously.
Smith is merely encouraging one and all to express themselves however they see fit, through their words, their movements and their physical representation of themselves. This is not an ideology to be shunned, rather one that should be celebrated. And celebrate it the kiwis did.
By the third act of SEX, Smith’s fans were ecstatic, this tour has been talked about and seen through the world of social media by millions, but to experience it live was something else altogether.
Smith’s reverent entrance to title track ‘Gloria’ saw them draped in transparent cloth that made them appear to have stepped straight from heavens gate, before they were stripped down to fishnets and burlesque style sequinned crosses adorned on their chest as they delivered a cover of Madonna’s ‘Human Nature’ that left the audience gasping for breath, Smith at one point gloriously grabbing their own tummy and shaking it comically.
The finale of ‘Unholy’ unsurprisingly brought the arena to its knees, Smith’s dancers laying it all on the line as Smith themselves wielded a bedazzled pitchfork and top hat while singing about the infidelity of a man that has left his kids at home.
The Gloria tour is truly a declaration of human emotion and the freedom to be exactly who one is, whatever that may be. For are we not always evolving within the landscape of our own world?
If not, we should be.
Sam Smith:
Meg Mac:
Were you there at Spark Arena for this beautiful pop gig? Or have you seen Sam Smith perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Sam Smith Setlist:
- Stay With Me
- I’m Not the Only One
- Like I Can
- Too Good at Goodbyes
- Perfect
- Diamonds
- How Do You Sleep?
- Dancing With a Stranger
- I’m Kissing You [Des’ree cover]
- Lay Me Down
- Love Goes
- Gimme
- Lose You
- Promises
- I’m Not Here to Make Friends
- Latch
- I Feel Love [Donna Summer cover]
- Gloria
- Human Nature [Madonna cover]
- Unholy
Meg Mac Setlist:
- Every Lie
- Maybe It’s My First Time
- Give Me My Name Back
- Letter
- Grandma’s Hands [Bill Withers cover]
- Low Blows
- Never Be
- Roll Up Your Sleeves
Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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