Pet Shop Boys Live Review

The Pet Shop Boys, London Hammersmith Apollo, Wednesday June 6th

I had waited a long time for this gig, somehow I've managed to miss Messers Tennant and Lowe every time they'd been playing. The gig at Eden was an option, but Dave, a friend of Dave's from Uni Moira and myself plumped for this one instead. The Apollo isn't exactly heaving outside, and inside is little different. It made a change to be made to feel young at a gig though, we spent a length of time attempting to spot gig-goers younger than us to pretty much no avail.

With no support act to stand through, the lights went down at approximately 8:30 and a flourescent cube lit up from centre-stage. Two dancers emerged, followed by two backing singers eventually followed by the PSBs, who charmingly met in the middle, shook hands and took up their positions. Starting up with 'We're The Pet Shop Boys' the first touch of perfection came from 'Left To My Own Devices'. Equal parts epic and poptastic this for me, surprisingly early on in the set, was the definite highlight.

As if to remind the audience of their immaculate back catalogue, the early part of the show contained uber-hits 'Can You Forgive Her?', 'Shopping', 'Rent' and 'Heart' interspersed with recent singles (and much improved live) 'I'm With Stupid' and 'Minimal'. The dancing throughout the gig was superb (on-stage that is!) and the backing singers, especially Sylvia Mason-James, who during 'Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You' wore two hats! Two hats! She had the kind of voice that, as soon as she lets rip, sends shivers up and down your spine. She was probably at her best at the end of 'West End Girls'.

Everything about the show was pretty damn spot-on, Tennant was on great vocal form, the music didn't miss a beat, the backdrop, choreography and lighting were all perfect. It was also a decent crowd and when the show hit it's camp high-spots 'Paninaro', 'Flamboyant' and set-closer 'Go West' the feeling of fun was overpowering. In fact, it was probably the most 'fun' I've ever had at a gig.

I worry about saying that the gig was 'fun' though, because it seems to belittle the musical achievements the PSBs have hit over the years. At frequent points during the evening the audience was treated to bursts of absolute musical perfection; sparkling pop gems, hi-NRG dance classics, tender ballads. I loved it. Best track 'Left To My Own Devices', overall 9.5/10.