Natalie Imbruglia ‘comes back stronger’ at Shepherd’s Bush Empire – Live review | Music | Entertainment

Her time in the soap opera was originally short lived, as in 1997 the Australian star carved out a new career for herself gaining worldwide pop fame with hit single Tom. Her debut album Left Of The Middle sold seven-million copies, and 1998’s Big Mistake followed Tom into the Top 3.

A quarter of a century 25 years later, Natalie is celebrating this career milestone with her current tour. 

Taking to the stage in a black and navy-blue tutu dress, Imbruglia, 47, skipped and danced into action, swinging into the vibrant What It Feels Like from her most recent and critically acclaimed album Firebird.

The more familiar groove of Wishing I Was There inspired the first crowd singalong, but there were no complaints from the fired-up crowd when Imbruglia went straight back into another new, mature pop number, her latest single Nothing Matters. 

Smash hit Shiver soon transformed the theatre audience back into being an euphonic and euphoric mass choir before Natalie laid her soul bare on the dreamy ballad, Smoke followed by the singer’s personal favourite, the quirky reflective charm of Pigeons And Crumbs which sees her “sinking in quicksand in a crowded room” before “you pick me up and I shine across the sky till morning, than you colour me in…”

Her more than competent backing band breathed life, soul and colour into the songs, allowing Imbruglia’s fragile personality to flow freely with bold confidence. 

New numbers, like the endearing Just Like Old Friends and the enchanting Firebird, wouldn’t seem out of place in the hands of ABBA and Stevie Nicks respectively. 

The grungy Alanis Morrissette vibe of the thumping Big Mistake was lapped up before Imbruglia invited producer and guitarist Phil Thornalley on stage for an embracing version of Tom, the Grammy-nominated cover of the song made her own and that kickstarted a new glittering career 25 years century ago. 

The encores included another new number, Build It Better and just like the singer herself it was full of strength and empowerment. 

After a six-year hiatus away from the music scene due to self-confessed writer’s block as well as motherhood, Natalie Imbruglia proved tonight that she has indeed come back stronger. 

Those through the doors early were treated to the falsetto voice of the support act, rising star Marcus McCoan, whose credentials include song-writing hits for the multi-million-selling K-pop band BTS. 

The in-demand Cornish lad soon won over the crowd with his forthcoming single Phase Me, which opened this succinct yet impressive set. Fashionably dressed and awash with a confident charm, his endearing dulcet voice was showcased best on an idiosyncratic cover of the dance floor favourite, You Got The Love. 

Marcus’s alluring electronic pop won him many new admirers. Songs such as the entwined Chemical and set-closer Hair Down left many begging for more.

No doubt we will be hearing a lot more from Marcus McCoan in the new year. A name to remember.