Scissor Sisters

While I was not sure exactly what to expect from the Scissor Sisters, I went as always with no pre-conceptions.

The support act had been on and gone before we arrived, although I am reliably informed that we had not missed anything worth catching.

The Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens is a fairly grand venue which boasts one of the bounciest floors I have ever encountered. The interior, with its ornate roof and guilded mirrors was the ideal setting for the camp explosion of colour that was surely about to follow. The stage was concealed behind a huge white curtain which was rippling with a breeze from behind as purple, pink, blue, green and red coloured spotlights played across the sheet.

A faint outline of a DJ spinning some great dance music was visible right of stage and everyone was already in a dancing mood as some classic tunes belted out from a more than adequate sound system.

After 20 minutes or so of listening to such great tunes the expectation in the crowd had built to such a level that arms were already up and whoops went up for each tune in turn.

Then without warning two of the now famous Scissor Sisters logo's appeared projected onto the sheet, one pink one purple. The cheer went up and a few moments later the curtain rose to reveal the glitz and glitter that everyone knew was behind it. The opening bars of 'Laura' belted out amid a stage that was lit by bars of technicolour lighting strips that made my eyeballs ache in a wonderful way.

The stage had as a centre piece a huge crystal chadelier flanked by a couple of huge mirror-balls.

Jake Shears (understated as always) was clad in a silver sequin outfit, Ana Matronic in a spangly evening dress.

They plowed on through all of their album stopping only for some good natured banter with the crowd, during which Ana admitted that she had ridden the big one (oo-er) that afternoon. And during one particular exchange Jake Shears asked the if anyone knew why Blackpool was so-named, and seeing a hand raised he jumped down to go and ask a girl if she knew the answer.... her answer was "yeah... cos the sea is full of shit".

'Tits on the radio'

'Lovers in the back seat'

Etc, etc

Mid set they played a fine rendition of Mary for a slow down of pace, which gave us all a moment to cool down. A short lived slowdown it was too as they went on with the funk.

They had saved some of the best for last as after almost an hour they went into 'Comfortably Numb' which ripped the roof and my head clean off.

They thanked the crowd and left stage right to some wild applause.

Then for an encore they played a slower funkier version of 'Franz Ferdinand's - Take Me Out'. Then having dedicated the next song to their dresser (who's birthday it was) the did a really dirty version of 'Filthy' and the crowd went mental yet again.

By now my mind, eyes and ears were pretty shredded by all the lights, colour and sound.

Wondering to oursleves what on earth they had left to top what they had already done, they dedicated a tune to John Peel (although for one reason or another... ahem... I honestly don't remember what it was called).

We had all Completely forgetten that they had a final ace up the sleeve in the shape of 'Take Your Mamma', for which they were joined on stage by a couple of stilt walking Scissor shaped dancing oddballs.

Overall the gig was a superb mix of glam theatre and technicolour funk, which left me delighted and surprised, becase as I said I was not a huge fan before. I had seen some of their dance tent set at Glasto but to be honest was in no state to appreciate or even remember what I had seen and heard.

Long may they prance & sing... they were a welcome dose of colour into an often cloudy Blackpool.

I'd happily part with another £16.50 the next time they come to town.

Top stuff.... catch em if you can.

FUTURE GIGS