The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Better, best and not forgotten 20 years on
Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Lee Larchford-Evans and Ian ‘H’ Watkins formed pop group Steps 20 years ago and went on to achieve phenomenal global success. The group has sold over 20million records worldwide, won a Brit Award for best live act in 1999 while their Greatest hits Album, Gold, was the group’s second number-one album in the UK.
Coinciding with their first new material album Tears on the Dance Floor which was released in April this year, they have now embarked on a UK tour, packing out arenas with their unique British pop music and creative dance moves.
Kicking off the party (and boy it was some party) at last night’s AECC was the Dutch dance quartet The Venga Boys. Never have I seen so many people ready and waiting in the auditorium for a support group, even within the first few bars of their first song everyone was up on their feet.
With classic dance tunes Ibiza, Boom, Boom, Boom and the renowned Vengabus this was the consummate warm up group in an evening brimming with cheesy pop tunes.
The atmosphere stepped up a gear for the imminent arrival of Steps as they appeared on stage in a cloud of pyrotechnics and dry ice.
Their styling is a lot more grown up nowadays with some dazzling sequined costumes, uber talented backing dancers, a large video wall and an array of podiums.
And hit after glorious hit kept the audience up on their feet dancing and singing along; isn’t it amazing how all of those lyrics come back to you? Brilliant renditions of boot scootin’ 5,6, 7, 8 complete with line-dancing and cowboy hats, Deeper Shade of Blue, Kylie Minogue’s Better the Devil You Know and new material Scared of the Dark and Neon Blue kept this Steps-tastic party on a high. Their voices don’t appear to have aged in 20 years with group numbers and solos still sounding as good now as they did back then; a cool acoustic start to It’s The Way You Make Me Feel was further proof of their vocal talent.
The encore; the exalted Bee Gees cover Tragedy (where everyone knows the actions) had similar styling to their music video as the band, resplendent in dazzling wedding regalia, rounded off the party of all parties.
It was gratifying to see so many fans of all ages enjoying this energetic set from a group that sounded as fresh as they did when their pop music was enjoyed at many a school disco. With a new album and judging by tonight a new army of younger fans, Steps better not be hanging up those stetsons just yet!