St. Vincent at Palais Theatre
St. Vincent, known for her unrivalled artistry and captivating stage presence, returned to Melbourne last night for a spectacular performance at the iconic Palais Theatre. Playing as part of her All Born Screaming tour, this was the first of many Victorian shows; with performances set to take place in Ballarat and back in Melbourne at the Forum Theatre as part of ALWAYS LIVE. For fans who missed the Palais performance, the Forum promises to deliver another unmissable experience.
Opening the evening was Lotte Gallagher, whose set showcased her ability to blend heartfelt songwriting with commanding vocals. She began with Gasoline, before moving through Gray and Heavy – all off her latest EP A Better Feeling. Unreleased track Can We Talk When It’s Over was a highlight of the set, while Adam, her biggest release to date, had the audience captivated. She closed the set with Blue, leaving the room buzzing as anticipation for St. Vincent grew.
St. Vincent (Annie Clark) took the stage with a striking opening; delivering a blinding performance of Reckless while her backlit silhouette cast across the theatre, and her voice soared through the audience. The mood shifted as she launched into Fear the Future, ripping into her guitar with unmatched intensity. The crowd erupted as the opening chords of Los Ageless filled the room – a personal favourite that showed she wasn’t here to mess around.
With Big Time Nothing, St. Vincent gestured to her ear, playfully egging the crowd on for louder cheers, before seamlessly transitioning into Marrow, where she both shredded on her guitar and had a dance, while the band showed off their impressive talents. The set slowed down for Dilettante, where she sat at the front of the stage, engaging with the audience. During the song, she teased, ‘Do you know what I want, Melbourne? For you to stand up. I know it’s Monday, but come on!’ Pulling out a vocal synthesiser, she sang through the voice-distorting device to add an experimental edge to the track.
From there, the energy ramped back up with Pay Your Way in Pain and Digital Witness; the latter kicking off with an electrifying ‘Let’s fucking go!’ as the crowd obeyed her command to move. The dynamic performance continued with Sweetest Fruit and Flea, which featured synchronised choreography with her band. Expressing gratitude, St. Vincent told the crowd, ‘Hello Melbourne, I love you all. I’m so glad you’re here, and that’s all I have to say at this moment.’ The theatricality continued with Cheerleader, where she handed her guitar into the crowd and concluded with the band producing a powerful drum solo.
After Broken Man, the distorted opening riff of Birth in Reverse brought an instant wave of recognition from fans, while Hell Is Near provided a darker, more introspective moment. Acknowledging that it had been a minute since she’d last been to Australia, St. Vincent talked about feeling alienated, finding belonging and navigating life with dignity and humour as she transitioned into New York. Joining the crowd for this intimate number, fans were treated to long hugs, playful moments on people’s phones, and getting up close and personal with the artist.
The final act was a masterclass in showmanship, as Sugarboy featured epic guitar battles and the high-energy All Born Screaming, the title track of the tour, closed the main set on a triumphant note. Returning to the stage for the encore, she performed Somebody Like Me, thanking the crowd with, ‘Thank you so much Melbourne, I love you dearly.’
St Vincent. delivered a performance that was equal parts raw, theatrical and emotionally resonant. With more shows to come in Melbourne and Victoria, fans who missed out tonight have a couple more chances to experience the brilliance of this truly singular artist.