KYLIE | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Mon 24 Sept
You wouldn’t think it was a Monday night in September when a packed Motorpoint Arena eagerly waited for the Princess Of Pop and honorary national treasure, Kylie Minogue, to transport us to a land of Kylie-brand Americana. A few minutes before Kylie and her musicians take to the stage, Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5 plays, setting the tone for the evening – one of camp pop with a country twist. Preceded by a cast of hunky cowboys and cowgirls, Kylie appeared in the middle of the arena performing the title song of her latest album, the country-themed Golden.
The Golden tour promotes her current album, but she took us on a journey through the last 30 years. Slow numbers and newer songs such as Radio On sit comfortably next to Kylie’s up tempo crowd pleasing classics; in this case followed by Wow and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, the latter performed with a slight country & western tinge. Another Golden track, Stop Me From Falling, has the makings of a future crowd-pleaser.
The stage contains various Americana props; sitting on a pool table, Kylie chats to the audience and pulls out an admirable “diolch yn fawr,” later saying hello to her family members in the audience. We feel as though we can claim her as ours because of how proud she is of her Welsh roots.
On past tours, Minogue has been known to remix her setlist, something that has irked some fans, but this tour’s performances seems more straightforward and true to the album versions. The cast of backing dancers add a bit of theatre to the show, and even the essential costume changes feature Western staples such as denim, cowboy boots and rhinestones.
The honky-tonk bar turns into Studio 54 for the last act, where Disco Kylie makes a late-night comeback. New York City / Raining Glitter, On A Night Like This, The Loco-Motion and Spinning Around; a gold glittery dress, confetti canons and a disco ball made for a extra camp final act, before an encore featuring Dancing, her most successful single from Golden.
This famously tiny woman captivates her audience: I hardly found myself watching her on the big screen, looking at her in person instead (albeit close enough to do so). It’s such a cliché to talk about female pop singers’ ages, so instead cheer the fact that Kylie kicked cancer in the arse and based on the Golden tour she shows no sign of stopping.
words and photos CHRIS WILLIAMS