It has only been a year since Tom Odell performed a show of his biggest hits down under with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the man from the UK has returned to Australia to promote his new “Wonderful Life” album, with his Sydney stop being at the Hordern Pavillion. 

The show started with Odell shrouded in darkness as he performed his first few songs only accompanied by his own piano. This was a great start to the set as the audience hum was reduced to a complete minimum as they turned off all of their senses and simply enjoyed the beauty of Odell’s music. Performing “Strange House” and “ugly” to kick off the show, he showed off some of the best material from his new album before moving into some of his more established material, flanked by a big-band style ensemble playing everything from guitars to strings to saxophone in points. 

The quality of Odell’s piano-playing was extraordinary as you can hear a pin drop in the room as the British singer-songwriter showed off all of his skills with absolute precision. He gradually built up the textures of his music through the set, carefully layering sounds on top of each other as he gradually added more instruments into the fold. The violin solo in “Spinning” was an early highlight, demonstrating the band’s virtuosity as well as variety in the setlist. 

Odell was at his best when he was behind the piano with gut-wrenching ballads that connected with everyone in the room. There were a few times when he got up from behind the piano to command the stage Freddie Mercury style which was an effective contrast but only further reinforced just how good his piano dominated sets were.

“It is a joy to be here,” he said. “It is so special to be here this evening.”

Odell also showed off some spontaneity, saying that he received a letter from Sara in the audience to play “The End,” to which he gracefully obliged. It was a stunning moment, with the pain in Odell’s voice reverberating through the Hordern Pavillion, capturing almost everybody in the audience. A wonderful song, beautifully written and exquisitely performed. 

While the venue was not quite full with some sections roped off, the crowd who were in were an informed audience, connecting with the broad Odell discography. Odell recognised this and thanked the audience in a way that suggested he was genuinely quite chuffed at the reception he had received. 

“Many years we didn’t play [in Australia] and it’s a f***ing joy to come here,” he said. “Seeing you all here tonight it’s hard to get my head around but it’s a f***ing joy. 

Odell closed out a lengthy encore with a roaring rendition of “Another Love” which pierced through the wall of silence from the audience into a raucous party atmosphere. With Odell absolutely nailing the electric performance, it was a wonderful way to close the night. 

Overall, this was an excellent concert, showing off all of Odell’s skill as a vocalist, songwriter and instrumentalist with a perfectly crafted and executed set. It is rare to see a performer put this much thought into the layering of their set, but Odell ensured that the show built to a crescendo in a way that allowed the audience to experience the breadth of his talents. A great concert and a great night for all in attendance. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Tom Odell – Hordern Pavillion – 16 January 2025