Live Review: Kate Miller-Heidke With WASO

Kate Miller-Heidke’s classical background and clever mix of opera with contemporary pop was perfectly complemented by the powerhouse that is the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, led by Benjamin Northey.

Total silence from the audience gave the night an atmosphere of stark anticipation and wonder at what was coming next.

Charming and sweet, Miller-Heike took an autobiographical musical journey through deeply emotional times, funny and poignant insights into her mind - all the while peppering in short stories of nudity and breast milk in the lead up to songs about her Mama and Humiliation (in that order). 

She shared stories of fan letters, musical dedications and how teachers now use Caught In The Crowd as a lesson in bullying, remaining humble and witty throughout. Her favourite letter was from a young man named George, involved a quick songwriting lesson teaching her not to rhyme ‘school’ with ‘school’, and told her to ‘keep trying’.

Part of Miller-Heidke’s immense appeal is her ability to switch from side-splittingly hysterical when singing about her ‘sausage purse’ to dynamic and flawlessly-executed opera within a split second. Songs from Miller-Heidke’s children’s opera The Rabbits made an appearance, having been written based on local author John Marsden’s fable of the same name.

And joining WASO and Miller-Heidke onstage was husband, and father to her ‘latest release’, Keir Nuttall. Nuttall also got his share of stage time, playing drawn-out solos (with good reason) that filled the auditorium with an ethereal magic that had Miller-Heike beaming ear-to-ear on the sidelines. During his extensive solos, he’d stop and take in the voluminous acoustics of the Perth Concert Hall, proclaiming at one point that “this place sounds amazing!”

Ending the 90-minute set with brutally honest ballad Sarah, Miller-Heidke had herself a roaring standing ovation and screams for more. As is the custom these days, she willingly obliged with her popular hit The Last Day On Earth, dedicated to a fan who had written to Miller-Heidke after using this song to help her through some hard times. And just like that, Miller-Heidke proved yet again how humble and connected she remains to her fans.