Review: Wafting into the Sydney Opera House forecourt like the smell of a freshly opened bottle of amyl, Troye Sivan delivered pure gay sexual energy to Sydney on Thursday night.
The Australian singer brought his "Something to Give Each Other" tour to the steps of the iconic Sydney landmark following stops in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.
As a chronically online homosexual, I thought I had seen every beat of the show, from its start in Primavera in Spain to the "Sweat" tour with Charli XCX across America.
But watching it online – versus in-person – is something entirely different. Troye gave his absolute everything to Sydney, as even he proclaimed: "This is my favourite show of all time" (though I'm sure he says that in every city).
It shouldn't be surprising, however, as I wrote in 2016 following his "Blue Neighbourhood" tour: "[Troye] proved not only is he a talent to watch but has all the makings of a global superstar. His return show to Australia was flawless in its execution and a spectacle to watch."
Witnessing the journey Troye has gone on, from his first-ever show in Sydney at Enmore Theatre to selling out Hordern for both the "Blue Neighbourhood" and "Bloom" tour, has been nothing short of remarkable.
The "Blue Neighbourhood" trilogy, featuring the singles "WILD", "FOOLS" and "TALK ME DOWN", holds a special place in my heart. Who among us as gay men can't recall our first teenage loves, the emotions that come with it, and inevitably the heartbreak when/if they turn out to be straight?
For fans who have been there since the start, the Wolverine actor gave his "Blue Neighbourhood girlies" a morsel with "EASE".
At his shows in 2016, Troye exuded confidence but performed in a T-shirt and chinos, coming across as a young man still finding comfort in his identity as a gay man. His videos from that era, featuring boys kissing boys, carried a tender, "Heartstopper"-like innocence.
Now, in 2024, the "Heartstopper" era is gone and "Looking" Troye has arrived – an evolution befitting an album inspired by a one-night stand, a theme all too familiar to many in the audience.
The heavens held off, but that didn’t stop us from getting “sweaty and wet” as Troye performed in harnesses, corsets, and underwear, backed by his “sexy hot dancers” and capping the show with a steamy on-stage makeout. Every hit had him "dancing [his] no-ass back out" with choreographed routines brimming with pure adrenaline and sex.
The microphone was clearly on the whole night, but he wanted "to hear every word" from the audience, and the gays obliged. There was certainly no shortage of gay references, with everything from a Kylie Minogue-esque outfit to an Aussie version of Madonna's "Italians do it better" shirt.
He powered through hits from his latest albums, including a sultry, sexually charged striptease for "One of Your Girls" and the infectious "Got Me Started".
He also left us wishing Charli XCX wasn't sweating it out in London with "Talk Talk" and "1999" and we even got to experience his musical magic "with Glinda" (Ariana Grande, a reference to her role in "Wicked") when he brought out "Dance To This".
The audience was loud regardless, but by the time the Grammy-nominated "Rush" came on, the Opera House forecourt had become a club with more amyl-sniffing than Sydney Sauna. The song was pushed to its limits but no one in the audience cared, because this is the Troye we came to see.
I wrote in 2016 that Troye "was one of the best live music acts I have seen, and like the rest of the audience, I eagerly await a new album from this superstar".
I could sign this review off with the same thought: Troye is a superstar who has become the best gay version of himself. He is unapologetic in his gayness and his sexiness. His journey from a fresh-faced gayby talking about first loves, to blooming, to now this, is a journey I know I can identify with, as I’m sure many in the LGBTQIA+ community who were on the steps that night can as well.
Troye has been on a gay journey, with this particular one ending in New Zealand next week. Where he goes next is anyone's guess but best believe we will all be there along for the ride.
Troye performs his last Sydney Opera House show tonight (Friday).
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: [email protected]
