Concert review: Lorde in Dunedin

Lorde performs live at Dunedin Town Hall. Photo/Getty

Lorde loves Dunedin. And Dunedin clearly loves Lorde.

More than 2700 fans of all ages - couples, parents with children and teenagers, grandparents, students and groups of friends - were wowed by the Auckland 17-year-old at her concert in the Dunedin Town Hall last night.

The all-ages gig, which had sold out in an hour, was part of her first New Zealand headline tour, and billed as her largest stage production to date.

Lighting, technology, sound and props combined to create maximum impact.

For someone whose songs often criticise the trappings of success, the show was all about glamour.

Constructed like a giant stage set, it featured a huge chandelier, and giant gold picture frame video screens.

Smoke-filled balloons were shot into the air on a couple of occasions and confetti-like squares of tissue printed with her picture dropped on the crowd.

Dressed in flowing black trousers and a bodice, she made two costume changes to white then red identical apparel.

Her trademark tresses were flowing and her quirky, jerky moves were on display but seemed more fluid than in some footage of her.

From her opening number, Glory and Gore, to the closing, A World Alone, fans were not disappointed.

Her playlist included some new material, as well as most of the hit singles and popular songs from her 2013 album, Pure Heroine.

They included Grammy-winning Royals, the moody and noirish Ribs, which muses about friendship, responsibility and getting older, White Teeth Teens and Tennis Court, most of which had the 2700-strong crowd singing along.

Applause was deafening and there were screams of "We love you" from young girls in the crowd.

A special treat was her new track from the upcoming Hunger Games movie, Yellow Flicker Beat.

She told the crowd between songs that she was "excited" about her first visit to Dunedin: "I've been here one day in what is arguably the most beautiful city with the most beautiful people."

She was full of praise for the venue, the cold, the space and the calm after her whirlwind time in the US, Europe and Asia: "I will never forget this; I will be back very soon. I adore you," she told the crowd to screams of delight.

I, like many fans I am certain, left the concert feeling richer for the experience.

Lorde
October 31: TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
November 1: Vector Arena, Auckland