Pussycat Dolls On Tour // European Tour // Reviews

Reviewed by Carl
Venue: NEC, Birmingham

The arena was alive as soon as the warm up guy worked the audience into a frenzy at around 8pm. Rihanna a global star already started us off with the dance smash "Pon de replay". In Black Hotpants and gyrations Beyonce would have been proud of this r & b starlet with 2 female and 2 male co-dancers worked the crowd and was a delight to listen to.Rihanna's own brooklyn D J interspersed Timberlake and Furtado to the fervent crowd during costume changes on a special stage constructed wirh "R" symbols across the top. Her Warm emotive vocal gave us a heart rending version of the ballad "Unfaithful" before further hits "We ride" and the Sean Paul groove "Break it off" both from her hit album "A Girl like me" precociously plugged during the performance but i don't think the crowd cared! To close the sequined Diva sang "Tainted Love" sampled "S O S" although ironically on this performance her career will need no such thing!

The main attraction eagerly awaited and within a quick set change it was PCD starting with the enigmatic and white hot "Buttons". The routine involving unique expert choreography and snake hip dances to the background egyptian style vocal was the perfect crowd warmer. The Dolls then introduced themselves before it was the 3rd hit and ELO sampled Beep complete with Black Eyed Peas Will i am making a special appearance on the 2 aide stage screens to show his part in the song.The Pink Panther theme with a performance including Carmit,Jessica and Kimberley was a sensational interlude and I don't need a man got everyone jumping (even the men!)It's just that kind of song. Nicole was inspirational in her solo and acappella vocal to "Feelin' Good" which merged into "Stickwitu" (one of my favourite's) and the true Anthemic story of the Doll union. Melody powerful performance during Bite the Dust and another Nicole solo for the break up love story "How many times?" deserve a mention as they captivated the audience. There was also a brief history of the Dolls with associated Cabaret inspired "Fever" with Carmit on lead going back to the roots of the group. A nice touch was the dance stomp contest although the two participants from the front of the crowd were too amazed to take it all in and an appearance by Robin Antin who created the whole PCD idea. There was a break down from the dolls themselves as they all "got freaky" and "shook their respective booties"!The Version of Tainted Love was fabulous and enhanced the earlier sampled version on Rihanna's S O S. There was a small interlude from Carmit as she mentioned having a Cleft Palate and along with Ashlee saying how through adversity you can do anything you want to and provided inspiration to all present young and old. Ashlee also thanked everyone for buying a ticket for the show proving the Dolls are aware of the support they have and are forever grateful and encouraged by it. After wait a minute the current hit featuring Timbaland it was rock chick time and the Led Zeppelin classic "Whole Lotta Love" but this version was very sassy and well received along with the encore including the sultry swing of "Sway" and then to close the groove that started it all off "Don't Cha" complete with an interpolation of Prince's classic "When doves Cry".The Crowd were "Feelin' good" as they made their way home and PCD showed during the 75 minute show they were indeed "Hot stuff". With the variety from dancing to shaking hot pants,from soul to jazz through to rock and pop it was a delight to witness and now all i am left with is to decide who my favourite is? The answer is Jessica but they all dazzled tonight.What a show!