REVIEW: Eminem Concert In Melbourne -- The Real Slim Shady Really Impressed!

It's been over 10 years since Eminem last performed in Melbourne. To celebrate his amazing return - he sold out a stadium in thirty minutes, and brought hip hop heavy weights Hilltop Hoods and Lil Wayne to support him.

I wasn't really sure where Etihad stadium was before the gig, but managed to navigate there by following the steady stream of wife beaters, tribal tattoos and do-rags. Yes. These punters meant business. We saw two fights even before Eminem took the stage, and not surprisingly the police were out in full force amongst the crowd to keep an eye on things.

The support acts were really top-class --Lil' Wayne appeared with a skateboard half pipe on stage, and took time in between songs to turn some tricks -- but there was no doubt that the crowd was there to witness the magic of Marshall Mathers.

Eminem launched straight into some tracks from his latest album 'Recovery' (which is also the name of this tour) and the crowd made their enthusiasm felt by screaming the house down. One fan in particular was so excited they poured their Bourbon and coke down on me from the upper balcony, which just added to the palpable atmosphere!

We all know that superstars like Eminem will find it hard to fit every hit they've ever created into one concert, but from my perspective that's pretty much what he did with the help of our very good friend -- the medley.

He kicked off with 'Lighters' which originally featured Bruno Mars. After the smokers of the stadium lit up the venue with a 'sky full of lighters' Eminem launched into every song we wanted to hear, including 'Stan' 'My Name Is' and 'The Real Slim Shady.'

To the delight of the ladies he even dedicated a song to the females in the venue yelling 'scream if you've ever had a dysfunctional relationship!' before kicking into 'Love The Way You Lie,' a song about domestic violence. Not really sure if the girls should have felt chuffed about that one...

Eminem ended the night with an encore of 'Lose Yourself' which riled the 20,000 person crowd into an absolute frenzy.

Marshall Mathers was amazing to watch -- the ultimate professional and someone who really interacted with the crowd. After being in the business for so many years he isn't slowing down at all, and despite having given up his partying ways hasn't lost his edge or become bland- which unfortunately sometimes happens to newly sober superstars!

If this was anything to go by, the rest of Eminem's Recovery tour is going to rehabilitate hip-hop and rap fans around the country.

Partial Setlist
Kill You
Cleaning Out My Closet
The Way I Am
Lighters
Airplanes
Stan
Sing For The Moment
Like Toy Soldiers
Space Bound
Love The Way You Lie
I Need A Doctor
My Name Is
The Real Slim Shady
Guess Who's Back
Not Afraid

Encore
Lose Yourself

REVIEW: Eminem Concert In Melbourne -- The Real Slim Shady Really Impressed!