Kim WildeThe '80s exploded in Enmore tonight, and there were few apologies for it. The line outside was a retro promoter's dream (and retro designer's one, too), while inside the audience were perhaps a bit better behaved than they would have been back in the day. Sorta. Nik Kershaw and his band (including Ricky and Scarlet Wilde) were kind of a support but played a full ten or so tune set including hits I Won't Let the Sun Go Down On Me, Don Quixote and Wouldn't It Be Good, with an epic 'show must go on' moment where a mic drone nearly killed the set. They stayed on as backing band/collaborators for Kim Wilde.
Wilde and family (Ricky her brother and songwriter, Scarlett her niece and backing singer) hit the ground running with Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, and played up the '80s cheese (but still awesome moves) throughout the set. A toy kangaroo made it on stage in between set-ups (gratefully received by Wilde), while she asked, knowingly 'does anyone remember the '80s?' before launching into a slower version of Cambodia (complete with vocals-only final verse). While it's been a while between drinks and tunes (Wilde even had a spell as a celebrity gardener in the UK - true story!), tonight proved she's still absolutely got her chops, including a local reference with a cover of I Touch Myself (great, although could have done with a little Chrissie love to frame it), and of course If I Can't Have You and Wonderful Life as a mass singalong. The mini-acoustic set in the middle was really impressive, too. But, by the time it came to Kids In America time even the stiffest of retro deniers was up and giving it a go. Tonight was not quite as tongue in cheek as some of the recent '80s relaunches (Rick Astley at the same venue last year was outwardly and knowingly hilarious), but fun none the less.
