REVIEW: @officialsteps Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Fri 13th April 2012
So 10 years after they split through different reasons – well, H & Claire just upped and quit, the Steps reunion happened. A show on Sky Living and a number one greatest hits album later, the five members of Steps came back and on Friday night set the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on fire. Well, figuratively speaking of course.
In an arena filled with a ratio of 4-1 women, the quintet kicked off over 2 hours of greatest hits and 5 solo sections to great acclaim. Steps were never about just the music, it was always about the daft fun of the music- being the dance moves. Even me, the most hardened of poptarts can’t fail to realise just how clever the packaging is, and yes, I do know some of the moves to 5,6,7,8 and Tradegy… maybe even One for Sorrow.
With all that’s been written about the acrimonious way the band split and Claire’s weight flucuations, the years just rolled back and you felt like you were back in the late 90’s… in a hen party….
Visually it was brilliant, with clever uses of the main backing screen for H’s solo of Don’t stop believing. I remain completely impartial about the production itself even though one of my bosses, produced it all. But that aside, it was full of vibrant colour, just exactly what you’ve come to expect from Steps.
I’ve found a short review from another perspective, just so this is balanced;
“AECC @ Sat 7 Apr 2012 by Cazzz1
Took the kids to this as thought it would be a fun concert to go to with them! We weren’t disappointed! We all thought the night was loads of fun and very entertaining! They all sang brilliantly even the solos were amazing and the graphics and the set were excellent! A fab night out-would def go and see them again! Awesome job guys! :)”
Whether they continue after this next step (see what I did there) is another thing. But if you do get chance to see Steps this Summer, take it.They’re playing Singleton Park in Swansea, and also Westonbirt Arboretum. Guess who’s going to the latter (yes, again)
The only negative to the whole night… the support acts – Shockolady and Kamaliya – quite possibly the worst support acts I’ve ever seen, and when you consider how many bands I’ve seen that’s quite a feat.
One word review – Steptacular!
Setlist
Here and Now
You’ll Be Sorry
Deeper Shade of Blue
Last Thing on My Mind
Better Best Forgotten
Love’s Got a Hold on My Heart
5, 6, 7, 8
Summer of Love
Better the Devil You Know / Judas
Solo Section
Moves Like Jagger / S&M (Lee)
One Night Only (Faye)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (H)
Heaven / Beautiful People / Lately (Lisa)
I Surrender (Claire)
Group Section
It’s the Way You Make Me Feel
Heartbeat
When I Said Goodbye
One for Sorrow
Stomp
Chain Reaction
Dancing Queen
Encore:
Tradegy
Review by Patrick Downes (www.facebook.com/poptartdj / www.twitter.com/officialpoptart)