Photo credit: Unsplash

An intimate spectacle: A review of Rex Orange County’s London Palladium show blends raw emotion with stagecraft

So, it has begun… the first night of a six-night residency at the London Palladium for Rex Orange County took place last night. “I’m not from London, but I love being in London.” Well, this is a show that makes you feel disappointed that he isn’t performing at the London Palladium for a longer period of time. The show is bursting with energy from the moment the singer first takes to the stage and is pretty much on full blast throughout, albeit for the more laid-back, introspective moments that require a more measured Rex to take centre stage and showcase the vocal ability that has helped define his very successful career.

Vulnerability from the first note

The show opens with Alexander, a thoughtful, almost spoken word-like song that serves as the opening track to The Alexander Technique album. The staging of the song, with focused lighting, an actor playing a therapist, and the therapist’s chair, immediately sets a very intimate and personal tone that invites us in as the audience. This theme is continued in the song Therapy, in which Rex says the words: “Welcome, welcome, make yourself at home and take a seat. I’ll be your host for the next hour, so get as comfy as can be.” These lyrics were surely penned with touring in mind, as he informs us that we are being invited into his world—a world that is so intricately captured through set design to display changing conditions outside the stage, which can only be described as a lodge or cabin.

The stage itself includes a traditional Japanese minka with sliding doors that open to reveal shifting visuals: serene landscapes, a twilight cityscape, and even delicate snowfall during one of his slower numbers.

A stage like no other

You can see the appeal of having this show in a theatre; it enables a sense of closeness, immersion, and connection that would have been harder to attain in a more traditional music venue such as Shepherd’s Bush Empire. This connection is particularly visible—and definitely audible—during fan favourites Sunflower, Best Friend, and Television/So Far So Good. During Best Friend, he wanted to create a moment that stayed authentically between us as the audience, so he requested that the audience put their phones away. “This is just between me and you guys. If people wanted to see this, they should have bought a ticket.” Don’t beat around the bush, Alex.

Before debuting Rearrange My World live, his new collaboration with Japanese Denim singer Daniel Caesar, he playfully asked the crowd: “Who had a terrible Valentine’s Day?” which led to a groaning flurry of argument before he cheekily added: “I can’t relate,” and then burst into song. The song, which marks a first collaboration between the singers, sounds amazing live even with Rex singing both parts.

A nostalgic surprise

Another surprise came in the form of Rex singing One in a Million, a song included as part of the tour’s tradition of having an older song as the surprise song in the middle of the set. The audience erupted, couples embraced, and Rex was in his element as he bounced across the stage singing the song’s catchy chorus.

One of the most eagerly awaited moments was Pluto Projector closing out the show. There is something quite magical about holding your phone light up and looking out to see a sea of lights swaying to a beautifully crafted song about love and self-reflection in one of the grandest theatres in the country. Not a bad way to end the show.