Reviewed by Zuzi Fort
I believe it is always important to step outside one’s comfort zone. It is essential to experience new and daunting things. Consequently, I have jumped off towers, run down the face of a building, and tried other hair-razing, adrenalin-pumping exteriors. So, that is why I have decided to see and hear what ILLENIUM was all about. Without revealing my age, it is safe to say that I am no spring chicken (at least not in years) and have no clue about what is currently hot. Thankfully, I have my trusty guide through this century, my twenty-year-old daughter. It is thanks to her that I have an Instagram account and that we have attended ILLENUM’s much-anticipated show. Show isn’t quite the right word. Extravaganza is more like it.
For those of you who, like me, think MC Hammer is still an up-and-coming artist, ILLENIUM is a GRAMMY® award-nominated artist and producer. He is listed in Forbes’ coveted ‘30 Under 30’ list and has more than seven billion streams to his name. Billboard described him as one of the world’s Top Dance/Electronic Artists. Pretty impressive. It is safe to say ILLENIUM is a force to be reckoned with. Born Nick Miller in San Francisco, the much-admired American producer, DJ, and instrumentalist has landed in Australia for his first show Down Under in two years.
Perhaps that is why I went. I wanted to see and experience this innovative form of entertainment. Thanks to Frontier Touring, my daughter and I got to immerse ourselves in and partake of this smorgasbord of sensory delights.
If you want to know more about ILLENIUM (to quote my daughter), Google him. But that is not why we are here. We are here to see what all the fuss was about. The event was staged at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and was full of thrills, chills, and dramatics galore.
I felt myself shed a few years, decades even, as we entered the Pavilion. For that alone, the event gets my vote of approval. Youth was on parade, and I gladly tagged along. There was seating on offer, but many opted to stand, hip and hop, or gyrate and sway along. The evening kicked off with two opening acts, special guests Said The Sky and Annika Wells. They entertained us for close to two hours and got us in the right mind. They set the mood for ILLENIUM’s dramatic, super vivid, breath-taking entrance. Though, perhaps their sets were a little too long. It is not just age speaking, but my daughter agrees. The wait to see ILLENIUM was a little too long, but it was worth it. At a quarter to nine, ILLENIUM entered in a blaze of glory, literally. As flames shot up, practically licking the ceiling, coloured lights flashed here and there and everywhere, and ILLENIUM appeared. From that moment on, it was one hair-raising ultra-thrilling ride. There was smoke, that was fire, confetti, and superb display lighting prowess. The audience rocked and bobbed as they held up their lit-up phones and sang along. The night was wild, and time flew by, and before we knew it, the show was over.
I still can’t feel my feet, and my body is in the grip of that thumping, pumping beat that echoes ILLENIUM’s vibe. I have also partially blocked ears, though that could be from my daughter’s excited squealing and the audience's exuberant singing, stamping, and clapping. I know my hearing will return, but the experience will remain. The memory of this extravaganza won’t fade over time. The razzle dazzle is here to stay.
So, for those of you who are young or young at heart, check out ILLENIUM and his work. If you get a chance to see him live, grab it. You will experience what makes live shows unique - the vibe, sharing the moments with others and feeling connected. You are sure to be enthralled by ILLENIUM’s mega show.
Upcoming shows:
Fri 1 Dec 2023, John Cain Arena, Melbourne Joined by Said The Sky | Annika Wells
Sat 2 Dec 2023, The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, Joined by Said The Sky | Annika Wells