I always said I'd never be front row at a gig out of fear of being crushed to death by a raving crowd of maniacal fans. That changed when I walked into the O2 ABC in Glasgow last night and saw that we were amongst the first 20 people inside the venue and there it was, the perfect spot to fit two excited MKS fans. Our space at the Glasgow date of 'original Sugababes' trio Mutya Keisha Siobhan's first headline tour, Sacred Three.
Things got off to a strong start with an impressive Mike Hough for support. His set was only about 15 minutes long but it was fitting as support to a group that pride themselves as a 'vocal focussed group'. After millions of record sales in their many guises as the Sugababes, these three proved over the 1+ hour set that they are the strongest incarnation of the iconic brand, in presence, like-ability & in vocal talent. The lights dimmed and 'Promises' kicked in as an intro track before the girls had even stepped on stage. It's a fitting flashback to their debut album One Touch, an album so underrated it pains me. The synths start popping and swishing right before the iconic production of 'Overload' comes into ear shot and the crowd go crazy. Mutya's in the tiniest shorts known to man, they must be custom made because I have never seen anything quite like them. Siobhan is carrying a mass of red hair on her catwalk ready frame & Keisha is looking smoking hot, as always. Mutya sits closest to us, facing me head on and sends a cheeky wave of acknowledgement (Instagram proving its social worth!). As predicted, their singing abilities haven't lessened over the years. All three blend and harmonise perfectly on a track that is as timeless as their talent. The nostalgia keeps flowing with an amazing performance of early single 'Run for Cover'.
I never doubted Siobhan could fill the role of Heidi on the later 'generation' of Sugababes' tracks and
her input on classics 'Hole in the Head' and 'Stronger' act as a firm reminder of just how incredible a singer she is. The former got the crowd heavily involved in a sing along and a standard 'who can sing/shout the loudest' contest. The latter was a gig highlight, powerfully sung and startling in a live setting, Siobhan's take on Heidi's mid section sending the die hard fans into a state of hysteria. Mutya and Keisha applauding her from the side was a nice gesture too, making it clear these girls really do get on well.
The first new MKS song we get to hear is 'Boys', a poppier affair than their 'debut' single 'Flatline'. It's fun, catchy and perhaps the most 'pop' sound we're going to get on their upcoming album. This is followed by Sia penned 'I'm Alright', a song so well structured it deserves some sort of pop medal. 'You wanna know if I'm lonely/ well I've been alone now for years/ I've cried all my tears/ I'm Alright...' they sing over echoey production. It all fits so perfectly together it begs to be a single.
We get thrust back into the past with a jaw dropping rendition of 'Too Lost in You', Mutya stealing the focus with her stunning solo segment. We get pulled forward again with new song 'Love Me Hard', an understated track with a smooth soulful chorus; it'll be interesting to hear this translate into a studio recording. Keisha's solo performance is mind blowing on this one and when she hit those high notes I felt like I'd been kicked in the balls. The crowd chants for 'No Regrets', popularised by an acoustic performance in the Google+ sessions. The album version of this song is suitable for a slow dance with its mid tempo pace and yes, the vocals were of course amazing. Again, Mutya's solo verse is so soulful and distinct you realise that this woman deserves a spot in the Pop Hall of Fame for vocal talent alone.
Things get wrapped up by two of their most memorable songs, 'Push the Button' and 'Freak Like Me'. This group really did (no matter what line up they had at the time) write and release some of the greatest pop songs of our generation. You actually forget just how good songs like the above are until you hear them live and you remember dancing in your kitchen, perhaps doing the hand swish dance move for good measure (maybe, maybe not?). The three minxes and Mutya's hot pants (they might actually be shorter than hot pants?) dash of the stage, thanking everyone for a great night. We know you're coming back, don't bloody toy with us.
Of course they did come back for an encore. Three new songs, starting off with Kendrick Lamar rerecording 'Lay Down In Swimming Pools' and rumoured new single 'Today'. Both a brilliant build up to the moment all MKS fans have been waiting for, 'Flatline'. The fact it hit a peak of 50 on the charts is really sad, considering the amount of utter shit that makes its way to the upper reaches of the top 40. It at least deserved top 20, but hey ho, that's the way music is bought. I hope you can sleep with yourself knowing you bought some pish Pitbull single while real talent got overlooked. Anyway, 'Flatline' is mesmerising live. All the harmonies are on point and the crowd gets fully involved to the point it's hard to hear MKS. I even found myself acting out the military drum build up with my hands.
I am of course biased when it comes to a review of an act I fully support. I would, however, never compromise objective opinion just because I like an artist. If this gig had been awful I would tell you, 'it was shite'. Thankfully, it wasn't. It was in fact, technically, one of the best gigs I've ever been to. This is based on stage presence, vocal ability and song quality. If the full MKS album is as good as the material I heard last night, it could very well be one of the most credible albums of 2014. If they decide to stick on a bonus disc of their greatest hits, featuring Siobhan instead of 'whoever' that would also make it an even more amazing purchase. I urge you to see them live, because they're the type of act that could sway even the most staunch skeptic with their solid harmonies.
5/5
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