On the Road Again
Live Reviews:

Spice Girls
August 11, 1998
Vancouver, BC

"Spice -- The Final Frontier,' bellowed William Shatner from the Spice Ship Enterprise. As the Spice Girls (Sporty, Scary, Baby, Posh) stormed the stage with their opening number "If You Can't Dance" all I could think was 'I wonder how much they paid Bill to say that?' - or did he say it for free, because Girl Power is worth it?

All Spice no substance? Talent-less wonder-bimbos? Think again.

Yes, the giant video-screen backdrop was shaped like a pair of breasts (a subliminal Geri-tribute?) and they wear ridiculous shoes and the naked parts seemed a little lusty and busty for an audience full of six-year-olds in feather boas. But the messages the Spice Girls sing are happy ones and they proved themselves quite able to walk and dance in perfect time on those platforms. From Mel B and Sporty's duet of "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" to an absolutely sweet version of "Wannabe" and an encore of - "We are Family" - clad in Bee Gee inspired white suits - the Spice Girls delivered every song to the shrieking Vancouver audience with energy and enthusiasm, constantly thanking their fans.

Attending a Spice Girls concert is probably the closest thing one could ever get to understanding what the Beatlemania phenomenon must have been like. Of course the Spice Girls don't sing about LSD, they sing odes to Pepsi (in their Generation Next sonnet "Move Over"). The chances are also pretty good that we won't be calling 'Wannabe" an influential classic in 20 years either. But the best thing about the Spice Girls is - none of that matters. They are a belly-buttoned, sequin-addled good time.

You don't notice the bad lyrics or the fact that Posh Spice looks bored out of her mind. It's all good feelings, full support yang energy and a live show of pepped up pop straight from the Maxi-pad. Pop culture and modern history at its best.

All I can say is I'm a Spice-Lover, My name is Sarah..