 
 Mum rock is very much alive and kicking. Pet shop
boys' post-eighties
multimedia theatrics were testament to this.
Sophis Ellis Bextor heated up the ever growing
Welsh audience of Mums,
Dads and life partners as she performed a bunch
of her digestable pop
hits against a bare minimal backdrop. Sporting
a flattering LBD
(that's little black dress in case you hadn't
heard) and heels so
killer they make Jason Voorhees seem kitten like
yet adorned with more
glitz than Sunset Strip. There was murder on the
dancefloor as SEB
pranced, popped and perpetuated her chart toppers.
The former hair model and mother of one won over
the CIA with charm,
elegance and a dishy band behind her; a sure winner
with almost the
entire audience.
The black sheets shrouding Pet Shop Boys' set
fell to the stage floor
unveiling two curious blocks of white blocks,
5x5 in dimensions. The
house lights went down and two geometric keyboardists
chimed in with
electro chords as the once pristine backdrop became
alight with a
rainbows worth of coloured pixelated images. Neil
and Chris made a
grand entrance through the boxes. Fans were taken
on a journey from
Everytime to Pandemonium to Cest Vida Ay (I Love
You), each tune
causing bigger stir than it's predecessor thanks
to each tailored
light show sequence.
 Tonight marks the "1st time we [Pet Shop
Boys] have played in Wales
this century" and the Blackpool supersounders
are here spreading nowt
but love. Love ETC flowed into Building A Wall
who's post-angst lyrics
broke down the light box barrier to reveal two
dancers dressed in the
spectrum, poised and ready to bust a Go West groove.
You Were Always
On My Mind, Go West and What Have I Done To Deserve
This proving the
main crowd pleasers from the eighties wonder duo.
Not one body
remained static nor did one voice remain disused
for the spectacle.
One of the show's most versatile cast members
were the amazing
costumes which were reflective, colourful and
yet so simple at times;
from GaGa inspired mirrored jackets and glitter
sprinkled ensembles to
house-coloured cubist body covers, tuxedos and
Specisl K ballroom
dresses. Beautiful. However the Regal attire adorned
for their cover
of Coldplay's Viva La Vida won my vote; albeit
slightly cheesie. But
we love cheese and pop, that's why we're here!
If we didn't love
Brie-pop why would we be dancing and singing along
to each and every
PSB tune in the first place? Truth is, even this
normal indie-rock
kid hearts a bit of classic love stuffed electro-bubble-pop
every now
and again.
Colourful, extraneous and OTT - even with twin
blonde dancers. Neil
and Chris, I salute you!
Pet shop boys - 4.5/5
sophie ellis bextor - 3.5/5
Review By Jessica Acreman
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