A magical, Moulin Rouge-inspired entrance at Glasgow’s O2 Academy was among the highlights of Jade Thirlwall’s debut solo tour. To Ethel Merman’s There’s No Business Like Show Business, two jazz dancers flapping huge, feathered fans wheeled on an ornate, velvet curtain-cloaked frame.
The first sight of the former Little Mix singer was a single, swinging hand peeping through purple. Then a lone leg. As her head, then the rest of her, appeared, clad in a sparkly, flesh-coloured bodysuit, the screams from the audience were already deafening.
That volume barely dialled down all night but the drama definitely dipped. At its best, this show in support of Jade’s Top 3 album, That’s Showbiz Baby, released last month, had shades of Chappell Roan, who played this venue a year ago. But too often it was an effervescent club PA with a banging backing track that seemed suspiciously at odds with what a pair of musicians on stage were playing.
Always the best mover in her old band, Jade was a joy to watch
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
Opener FUFN (F*** You for Now) was frothy fun but nowhere near as raunchy as its title. The Diana Ross-sampling Before You Break My Heart was disco-lite, overshadowed by Jade’s fabulous Yeti-style silver coat with two trains carried by her dancers.
Always the best mover in Little Mix, Jade was a joy to watch. She was also enchanting when she spoke in her South Shields accent. “I know the further north you get, the better the crowd,” she said. Then she spoilt it by talking about levelling up to a bigger venue for her next tour. Someone should have told her about Roan, who purposely levelled down.
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A Destiny’s Child-like Lip Service was part-performed to a giant mirror prop. Self Saboteur was Whitney Houston-meets-Eurovision. A cover of Madonna’s Frozen was sped up to hyper-pop. It was high camp on a low-budget bolstered by powerful, versatile vocals.
The show’s latter half was a blast. Silent Disco sung from the balcony with the venue lit up by a mirrorball, a Disney-esque Natural at Disaster performed on the floor in a corset and a dip into Little Mix with Wasabi were all as dramatic as that intro. Ditto, of course, Jade’s bonkers signature hit, Angel of My Dreams. If only the whole show had been at that level.
★★★☆☆
Touring to Oct 23, jadeofficial.com
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