CMAT
The Forum, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday, January 28th
A giant banner of CMAT’s face dominated the back wall of the Forum stage on Wednesday night — we were guests in her world.
Opening for her was former Bridezilla singer Holiday Sidewinder (CMAT will praise Sidewinder’s name later while also remarking, “That’s the name on her passport”), who fully inhabits a world of classic pop that would be as at home in the ’70s or ‘90s as it is now. Appearing solo, accompanied by backing tracks, Sidewinder filled the stage with her plush arrangements and stylish vocals while also cutting non-stop moves throughout her nine-song set. Note to SBS: let’s get Sidewinder to Eurovision.
In the time since CMAT last visited Australia her career has exploded.
At home in Ireland, the singer-songwriter has clocked up three number one albums, but in the past 12 months she has gone global with a viral hit, TikTok dance fame, a blockbuster Glastonbury set, and an album that’s been a breakout streaming hit.
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So when a spotlight suddenly revealed CMAT’s presence, not on stage but at the back of the sold-out Forum’s dancefloor area, the crowd erupted with an ecstatic enthusiasm that wasn’t to wane all set long.
CMAT performed her quiet opening number entirely from that spot before making her way to the stage to let rip on a set showcasing last year’s EURO-COUNTRY album, with occasional stop-offs at earlier fan favourites.
Bedecked in sunnies, sash and bright pink leggings, CMAT joined her six-piece band (steel guitar, fiddle, guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards) who matched the singer with pink-toned stage attire. As they ripped into the elevated country-rock of “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station” this was our invitation into a night of colour and movement.
“It’s the last night of my Australian tour,” CMAT declared, beginning the banter and teasing that had the crowd eating out of her hand for the following 90 minutes.
Her band struck various rockstar poses and froze in position as CMAT elicited wild crowd responses with just a raise of her sunglasses, a flick of her bangs, or a quick butt shimmy. The band unfroze and froze and unfroze — CMAT played out the will they/won’t they gag with the timing and confidence of a seasoned stand-up comedian.
@thataussiemusicguy Where Are Your Kids Tonight? – CMAT, Live In Melbourne #cmat #eurocountry #melbourne #ireland #countrymusic
CMAT’s set swung from her country roots (“Aw Shoot”, “When a Good Man Cries”) through indie pop (“Tree Six Foive”) and into the deep funk groove of “Have Fun”. She had fun working every square centimetre of the stage, making time for each band member. Comparing the band’s outfits to The Wiggles, she sang a tiny snippet of “Fruit Salad” before adopting an Aussie accent to recite Margot Robbie lines from her time as Donna in Neighbours.
After professing her love for Australia, CMAT addressed her fellow Irish in the crowd: “To the Irish people in the room — don’t go back, there’s nothing there for you.” The response was deafening.
While CMAT made some costume adjustments (her sash had come loose), she asked band members to come forward to perform an impromptu interpretive dance “about the wide availability of botox in Australia,” not what anyone was expecting from a night of country-pop.
Before heading into the big hitters, CMAT opened up about the body shaming she’s inundated with on a daily basis online. Her response to that abuse was to write and record the song that re-shaped her career trajectory; when she launched into “Take a Sexy Picture of Me” last night, the crowd sang every word with her.
CMAT even turned band introductions into a set highlight — it also included a Kath & Kim reference. Keys player Colm Conlan then came forward to duet with CMAT on the epic “Where Are Your Kids Tonight?” (the recorded version is a collaboration with John Grant).
The trilogy of hits was rounded out with “Running/Planning”. CMAT and band then exited before a floor-pounding reaction brought them back for three more songs.
As the band tore into “EURO-COUNTRY” Irish flags suddenly appeared in the crowd, a visual reminder of the song’s emotional resonance. CMAT took a moment to speak about the deep connection between the Irish, Australia’s First Nations community, the under-attack immigrants in the US, and the people of Palestine. The previously rowdy crowd was pin-drop silent throughout her speech, before they gave her a roof-raising response for her thoughtful words.
Tapping into her crowd’s up-for-it mood, CMAT rounded out the night by organising a sway-along to “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby” and an absolutely lung-destroying version of “Stay for Something”.
