Review By : Joey Kavanagh
Photo’s By : Alessio Michelini
Six years ago, unashamedly camp New York pop outfit Scissor Sisters rocketed to the upper reaches of the charts with their singular cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’. The track certainly had novelty appeal but Scissor Sisters were no one-hit-wonder and, a clutch of radio-friendly pop hits later, their eponymous debut became the biggest selling album of 2004.
In the four years since their multi-platinum sophomore album, ‘Ta Dah’, the band scrapped a whole album’s worth of material and bid their original drummer Paddy Boom farewell. Apparently back on track after these hiccups, the band decided to stop off at the Olympia and give the material from their new album ‘Night Work’ an airing, as part of their ‘club tour’.
The new record has apparently been inspired by the Berlin nightlife so it’s somewhat fitting that, after Swedish electro outfit Little Dragon turn in a decent support set, a DJ takes to the stage to spin some club-friendly electropop. By the time the gender-bending New Yorkers take to the stage, the audience are ready to bust a move.
Kicking off proceedings with the disco-infused title track from their new album, Scissor Sisters make it clear from the outset that they don’t intend to disappoint. A dazzling laser display adds to the club atmosphere, while singers Jake Shears and a noticeably svelte Ana Matronic are dolled up and ready for a night on the tiles.
Having cut their teeth on the New York club circuit, the band are seasoned performers. Their trump card has always been Shears’ soaring falsetto but, in a live setting, it’s Ana Matronic that anchors proceedings.
As well as compering the majority of the ‘banter’ between songs (dedicating ‘She’s My Man’ to “all the girls in The George” and giving a shout out to the murderous Irish siblings nicknamed after the band), Matronic struts and poses theatrically throughout the set, occasionally taking over lead vocal duties from Jake.
It’s a testament to the quality of the new material that, despite playing predominantly new songs, the set doesn’t suffer from too many peaks and troughs. The band perform a choreographed routine to electro anthem ‘Something Like This’, while Jake dedicates ‘Skin Tight’ to his boyfriend of six years.
Latest single, heartfelt ballad ‘Fire With Fire’, sees a change of pace, while ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ has the audience singing along with gusto. Whatever problems the band may have had in recent times, they certainly don’t manifest themselves tonight; on stage, the Sisters seem happy, healthy and at the top of their game.
After a quick costume change for Ana, the band return for their encore to rapturous applause. ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Invisible Light’ and ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’ cap off the set and the detonation of a confetti-cannon ensures that the night ends with a bang.
In the wake of the slew of ‘high concept’ pop-stars that have emerged in recent years, Scissor Sisters’ flamboyance may not have the same impact it once did but the calibre of showmanship on show here tonight will never get old.
