Maroon 5
Review:
Maroon 5 have never been given any respect. They’ve had to earn
it.
When the five-piece LA pop band released their debut album,
Songs About Jane, in 2002, it sank without impact. But
constant touring and celebrity-filled clips for tunes such as
She Will Be Loved helped the album eventually sell more
than 10 million copies worldwide.
Their new album, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, has
already gone platinum in Australia, and on Sunday night the group
hit the stage at Rod Laver Arena to spread the love.
Frontman Adam Levine pranced across the stage with furious
energy and stadium-rock moves, but the capacity crowd was curiously
unengaged until the hit-filled second half.
The 90-minute event lifted after Levine revealed he was
surprised by the number of “dudes” present, and how it was
inhibiting his usual performance.
“You’re dancing, you’re making eye contact with (females) and
then . . . 10 guys!” he said, as the band launched into Wake Up
Call and This Love.
The singer’s high, lilting voice lacks the bombast of most rock
performers but imbues the otherwise throwaway songs with emotional
resonance.
Earlier, support OneRepublic went beyond last year’s smash
single Apologize to build a warm, rewarding set.
New single Stop and Stare was one of many surging
thrills displayed on the band’s first visit.
Maroon 5’s songs are popular with commercial radio programmers
because they are instantly familiar and don’t disappoint. I
Won’t Go Home Without You is a perfect example, with Levine
roaring up the scale to produce a beautiful pop moment.
The band are impressive enough live, but reach the level of
“enjoyable” rather than “astonishing”.
