Live Review: Taylor Swift, Guy Sebastian, Neon Trees

10 December 2013 | 12:38 pm | Laila Evans

Ringmaster Swift leaves the stage with a wave to a worshipful crowd, leaving a stadium full of satisfied and exhilarated fans.

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Neon Trees begin proceedings at the already packed Suncorp Stadium with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm and sparkly trousers. All the way from Utah, singer Tyler Glenn engages the crowd of predominantly tween girls with radio hits Everybody Talks and Animal. A well-received support act, deemed Instagram-worthy judging by the abundance of camera phone flashes.

Guy Sebastian is surprisingly watchable, his strong voice and full backing band filling the stadium nicely. Battle Scars earns the most rousing response and his comfort in the stadium setting is evident with his easy soul swagger and confident posturing. 

It's obvious from the moment you arrive at Suncorp Stadium that tonight belongs to the girls. From first time concert goers wearing mum's red lipstick to the packs of teen girls in matching homemade Taylor Swift T-shirts, the place is buzzing with the kind of unabashed enthusiasm that only comes with the dizzying high of being young, female and at a pop concert.

Taylor Swift first appears as a larger than life shadow behind the stage curtain, emerging to raucous screams to play State Of Grace. America's sweetheart does not disappoint, even when a slight technical mishap interrupts the first of many costume stages. The Lucky One, Red and 22 all make early appearances before Swift is carried through the adoring crowd for a short acoustic set of You Belong To Me and Begin Again on a small stage at the back of the stadium. We're told early in the show that we've effectively opted in for two hours of hearing about her feelings, and judging from the tearful singing along and high pitched squeals, the 40,000 fans more than approve.

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The main stage is like a sumptuous Old Hollywood musical scene, Swift owning the space in the obligatory ethereal white dress and bare feet for Love Story, then segueing into a thrilling Phantom Of The Opera-styled I Knew You Were Trouble. Having proved her proficiency on the banjo, acoustic guitar and bedazzled red Les Paul, Swift enthrals the crowd with her piano ballad All Too Well. The night is over all too soon with flashes of pyrotechnics and confetti cannons during a spectacular circus-themed We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. 

Ringmaster Swift leaves the stage with a wave to a worshipful crowd, leaving a stadium full of satisfied and exhilarated fans.