What a joyride!

We may only be in the first quarter of 2025, but Roxette is already the top contender for the best live show of the year. The last time this photographer and writer sang his heart out – while photographing, was during the final KISS concert at the RAC Arena in 2022. It may be a biased opinion considering each song – or at least the commercial releases – sparked the nostalgia of his high school years, when life was seen through a different lens – for better or worse.

“If you know the song, please sing along. If you don’t know the song, just sing anyway, like we do,” said Per Gessle, the surviving member of Roxette.

And hit after hit they came, as the capacity crowd of over 6000 fans obeyed the 80s and 90s music commander of Sweden, as they revisited memories of Rage TV on Saturday mornings and Barry Bissel’s Take 40 Australia.

“So sit back and enjoy the joy ride,” said MC Jessie James.

The night is sparked by Big L. The crowd rise to their feet – an unfamiliar sight in Perth- followed by Sleeping in My Car. The fans embrace Lena Philipsson at hello – who has taken the role of lead vocalist in recent tours following the passing of Marie Fredricksson in 2019. She’s not official member of Roxette, instead she’s the featured artist of this tour, but that seems irrelevant.

As for the alumni of the Barry Bissel era, the moment has arrived. With the punchy guitar riff at the intro, the momentum is set with Dressed for Success – arguably one of the greatest hits from the late 80’s. The single from the Look Sharp! album elevates the crowd to a euphoric level thanks to the punchy projection of Lena, through her sassy vocals that are filled with determination. She constantly weaves across the stage with the stage persona, inducing new blood into a chronologically aging band.

But the band formed in 1986 didn’t show any signs of wear and tear. Per scintillates through his guitar, pointing its head to the heavens like a rock god, often raising his right hand, with the crowd mirroring his movement in rock god gestures.

The stage is packed with three guitarists and a bass player, keyboardist, drummer and backup vocalist to complement Roxette and Lena. The wall of sound is united on the Swedish front and there are occasions when the lead guitarist soars with his six strings like Angus or Slash would, even taking a moment to play Waltzing Mathilda that induces a roar of patriotism.

With the sense of anthemic familiarity, the hits keep rolling in Fading like Flower, commencing with the gentle piano before the snares, guitars and drums hit, signaling the tone of the story that’s about to unfold. Lena thrusts her hips at the crescendo and the emotional depth resonates with the vulnerability and longing that this song deserves.

Per had a solo moment in Opportunity Nox, which transitioned to Vulnerable in an acoustic performance. The middle of the concert is filled with ballads as the setlist continues with Wish I Could Fly and the biggest ballad of them, and also “Marie’s favourite song” – It Must Have Been Love, the 1987 track that was used in Pretty Woman over 35 years ago, catapulting Roxette to global fame. At this point, poignancy rains and saltwater drips from the faces of the old-school followers, as we sense the presence of Marie. Perhaps it’s the melancholic piano, setting the love-sick mood of the broken kind, or perhaps visions of the old flame igniting from a world that seems a lifetime away. After all, love never dies. Lena tells the story beautifully, a deserving justice in honor of the late Marie. It is her song.

After moments of reflection, the switch is flicked and Roxette makes a home run with the faster tone in How Do You Do, and perhaps the biggest roar of the night so far goes to Dangerous. Lena haughtily walks across the stage towards Per, and once again, the lead vocalist sings with conviction, one that soars to match the lyrics and tempo. The playfulness and flirtatiousness of her tone make this hit the fans’ favourite so far in the live setting of Kings Park.

As the show reaches critical mass, the fans are fully unstrapped again with one of the most recognisable whistle hooks in Joyride. Per Gessle’s smooth vocals are full of wit and charm, which makes it a perfect one-two combo with Lena’s soaring voice, before heading backstage for the traditional break.

The encore is also packed with the biggest hits of the 80s and 90s, commencing with Spending My Time in an acoustic set with only Per and Lena on stage. Of course, the crowd sing in a beautiful harmony of unity and solidarity. The blend of emotional depth and soaring melodies continues with Listen To Your Heart, as the dreamy piano kicks in a beautiful ethereal propagation, backed by self-appointed singers of 6,000

We sense the end is near.

The Look takes us again to the peak, on a night filled with undulating set of emotions. Per’s talk – singing style at the verse is exactly how it was in 1989. And as she goes “na na na na na”, something tells us this is not a final goodbye.

Nio års väntan är över – Roxette är ute på världsturné. Premiären gjordes i Kapstaden, i samma arena som Per Gessle och Marie Fredriksson gjorde sin sista konsert ihop.

Efteråt var Gessle omtumlad. 

– I dag var det mer än jättebra faktiskt. Mycket tack vare Lena som är en fantastisk, professionell och enastående begåvad personlighet, säger han till Expressen.

”Det viktigaste för mig” 

Med sig på scen hade Gessle Lena Philipsson, trummisen Magnus ”Norpan” Eriksson och gitarristen Jonas Isacsson.

För Philipsson var kvällens konsert den första med Roxette-gänget.

– Det var otroligt kul. Jag kände att vi har kul tillsammans, vi gjorde det tillsammans, säger hon.

Gessle är inne på samma sak. 

– Jag sa det till bandet efteråt, att det roligaste och viktigaste för mig var att vi hade kul tillsammans.

”Jag blir rörd och stolt”

Efter Kapstaden bär det av till Pretoria, där nästan 11 000 biljetter är sålda.

– Jag är ju rörd och stolt över att det kommer så mycket folk. Och det är ju så roligt att sjunga dem inför en publik som gärna vill sjunga med och älskar dem, säger Gessle.

– Det är en fantastisk låtskatt som de har, och som folk älskar, säger Philipsson.

Efter Sydafrika bär det av till Australien, där många konserter redan är slutsålda. Turnén avslutas i Gessles Halmstad den 27 juli. 

– Och det kommer bara bli bättre, säger Gessle.