REVIEW: The Pet Shop Boys
- Posted on May 30, 2007 10:03 AM
- 2 comments
The Pet Shop Boys
Hammersmith Apollo, Sunday 27 May
A Pet Shop Boys concert is not just a musical evening, more an entertainment event. With the addition of talented dancers and backing singers and the backdrop of ever changing visual images, there was never a dull moment. The venue was the Hammersmith Apollo, an art deco theatre which first opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace. In the Fifties it became the Hammersmith Odeon and played host to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones among others. I recall seeing Ike and Tina Turner there in the early Seventies. In 1992 it became the Labatts Apollo, hosting theatre shows such as Riverdance, only to revert back to the rock circuit some years latter. It has the same large standing area as the other Carling outlets and the bars are, for the most part, located in the foyer. It is listed Grade 11*, so should be around in its present form for some time. It’s next door to Hammersmith tube, which is on the District & Circle, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly lines, and there is a bus station there also. I parked very easily in one of the adjoining roads, which are full of pay and display and free after 6:30.
The audience was made up of all age groups, united in their determination to have a good time on what turned out to be one of the wettest and greyest days of the year. The show opened with the dancers and backing singers posturing, in what turned out to be the same outfits as the boys themselves. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe made their entrance; with Neil wearing top hat and tails and Chris in a yellow hoodie and trademark baseball cap; and opened with “I’m With Stupid”. Many of the hits followed; “Suburbia”, “Minimal”, “Being Boring” to name a few, all of which had the audience forgetting the awful weather outside. During the whole show, ever changing images appeared on the backdrop, sometimes reflecting the activities on stage, sometimes past events. The dancers and backing singers changed costume so many times that I lost count, while Neil kept his forays to the wardrobe to a minimum. As for Chris, well, what do you think?
“Rent” had Neil sitting on a chair while the whole ensemble took “Opportunities” (Let’s Make Some Money”) to keep the punters happy. The pace did not let up when “Where The Streets Have No Name/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of . The pace did not let up when “Where The Streets Have No Name/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” took on a cowboy look while “West End Girls” was positively street. While all this was going on, Chris snuck in a vocal, Neil played his acoustic guitar and a bass and small drum kit arrived for one song. The inevitable encore included “It’s A Sin” and “Go West” and the show closed with the audience shouting for more. Much too soon we were outside in the depressing rain looking at the Hammersmith Flyover, thankful that one of this county’s longest running shows had once again brightened up our day. Thank you Neil and Chris and Co., it was a good one.
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Comments (2)
Paul Skinback
Glad you got parked ok, and thanks for the tube info.
Posted on May 30, 2007 2:30 PM
Tracey
Hi,
Can someone tell me what time the Pet Shop boys come on? The tickets say it starts at 7.30pm, but do they come on later?
Thanks
Tracey
Posted on June 4, 2007 10:43 AM
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