An evening spent with Russell Brand was always going to be interesting, even if it was shared with a few thousand other people at Perth Arena. I’d seen Brand’s TV show Brand X and his movies, including the most recent inspiring documentary, so I had some idea of what to expect, or so I thought.
Russell Brand © The Ponder Room
The evening began with London Slam poet Mr Gee, which cemented that this wasn’t going to be your run of the mill evening. Support act is a hard gig, I know I wouldn’t want to do it. Mr Gee showed that he’d done his homework about Perth and his unique poetry was thought provoking, refreshing and well received by the audience.
Enter Brand.
Russell Brand with audience © The Ponder Room
House lights up Brand ‘walked amongst’ the audience right up to the end of the ground floor seating area. With the microphone cord limiting his movement, I pondered why they hadn’t used a radio mic, although watching the crowd pass the cord over their heads trying not to garrotte each other, added an extra element. Brands quick wit and intelligence were clearly on show as he worked the crowd and turned even the smallest opportunity into comedy gold.
Brand had also done his homework about Perth with references to the Eagles, Dockers and Armadale. A highlight was his observation about our obsession with not allowing fruit into the state.
‘Have you got any fruit, fruit, got any fruit …. you’re very worried about fruit, but when you get in here the place is awash with Meth,’ said Brand.
A fair amount of the evening was taken up with Brand showing videos of his past exploits, which were entertaining, if not necessarily new.
Russell Brand with underpants present from crowd © The Ponder Room
Brand used the evening to convey messages about individualism versus the power of the crowd. His messages about capitalism were interesting, especially when he explained how taking this stance had directly impacted on his own ability to make a living. Perhaps that’s the real reason why he’s on tour.
Brand has been described as a ‘self-styled’’ prophet and the evening did feel like a religious experience … a religious experience peppered with biting humour and a fair amount of pelvic thrusting.
The final scene after the show ended cemented the ‘prophet’ tag and left me pondering the most …
Russell Brand far right at end amongst crowd © The Ponder Room
While most of the audience had vacated to join the throng of cars trying to leave the carpark, others ran to the front of the stage. It was fascinating, and heart-warming I must admit, to watch Brand spend a good 30 minutes moving from one end of the crowd to the other, greeting people and taking a myriad of selfies. Not a bouncer in sight. The only other performer I’ve seen do this was Bill Bailey who sat on the edge of the stage and had an impromptu sing-a-long for half an hour. Those who left early to beat the traffic missed out.
As I watched on I was reminded of the scene from Life of Brian. No wonder Brands fans are so loyal.
Russell Brand © The Ponder Room
Russell Brand is, insightful, opinionated, hilarious, and thankfully still a very naughty boy.