ALEX WARREN SOARS WITH “LAUGHTER, TEARS AND CHAOS” IN MELBOURNE
LIVE REVIEW | ALEX WARREN w/ Medium Build | Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne | 25th August 2025 by Alira Fratantaro
Walking into Margaret Court Arena on Monday night, there was a sense that the Melbourne crowd was about to witness something bigger than just another pop show. Alex Warren brought his Cheaper Than Therapy tour to the city, and with a record breaking 7,079 fans filling the room, the energy was electric before he’d even hit the stage.
Opening the night was Medium Build, the project of Nick Carpenter. If you’ve heard even a little about him, you’ll know his live shows are equal parts concert, confession, and comedy, and he delivered exactly that. Within the first song, Nick had managed to break one of his guitar strings. Soon after, Alex ran on stage to hand over his personal guitar for him to use for the rest of his set. The set felt very intimate despite the arena setting, with Nick’s candid storytelling weaving between songs.
At one point, the crowd egged him on to do a shoey, and even though he resisted multiple times, the peer pressure eventually won. My personal highlight came with his stripped back cover of Harry Styles’ Falling, which had the whole arena screaming along like it was their anthem. His blend of humour, vulnerability, and effortless charisma made it clear why he’s been turning heads globally. He didn’t just warm up the stage, he left a lasting impression with the entire venue.
Then it was time for Alex Warren, and he wasted no time. Jumping straight into Burning Down, confetti cannons burst open with colourful streamers, setting the tone for a night that felt as unpredictable as it was emotional. Backed by a band who matched his energy, Alex commanded the stage with a mix of polished performance and chaotic fun.
It’s impossible not to talk about how much he interacts with his fans. In just the time I was there, he accepted urns of audience members’ parents (yes, you read that right), announced a gender reveal, and received gifts ranging from custom dog bandanas to a Bunnings hat. At one point, chants of “Kouvr! Kouvr!” filled the arena, and Alex cheekily shot back, “Guys shush, this is my moment,” before proudly showing off the sunflower painted guitar she had made for him.
The setlist flowed between high energy tracks and heartfelt moments, Before You Leave Me had the crowd swaying arm in arm, while You’ll Be Alright, Kid turned into something bigger than a song when he had the entire audience sobbing. Those kinds of raw, heartfelt moments are what makes Alex’s live shows feel like a conversation, as much as a concert.
Markell Washington, who Alex brought along for the Australian leg after a TikTok request, was a standout presence in his own right. Dancing, hyping the crowd, and connecting with fans before and throughout the show, he added a playful chaos that only amplified the night. He spent the night beaming with pride.
By the time Yard Sale closed out the section of the set I was there for, the crowd was still buzzing, and it was clear why Alex had to upgrade his venues after the tour first went on sale. What could have easily felt like just another influencer-turned-singer story, instead proved that Alex Warren is carving out a space that’s entirely his own.
The Cheaper Than Therapy tour wasn’t just a catchy name, it summed up the whole night. An experience of laughter, tears, chaos, and catharsis, it was an arena show that somehow still felt personal.
