Live Review: TLC, DJ Mimi

We barge through an impressive queue lining up for TLC's meet and greet to get to the box office and notice some teen fans among the throng.

Once inside, we look up who's listed as our warm-up DJ for this evening: it's Mimi/CRXZY SXXY CXXL and she sure is lively behind the decks. She drops the PG version of Let's Get Retarded by Black Eyed Peas. JT is always welcome to bring SexyBack into the equation. Her track selections are great, but the exaggerated tweaking and scratching gestures are a bit suss. As is the white, shiny, cropped leotard top that looks like it's straight off the Supre bargain rack, diamanté dog collar and Bjork-style raver hairdo.

As TLC's band - synths, drums, bass and decks - set up along the back of the stage we notice two members sport matching black top hats while the lilac-mohawked DJ/hypeman boasts a bedazzled mask. "On your feet!" the DJ commands. TLC's backing dancer foursome immediately mean business with their loose, unison funk-swag and impressive tricks. And then in strut Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Could there be any more customised, cut-out, blinged-out denim up there?

Jubilant trumpet sounds pierce the air and we squeal with delight as TLC present Creep, song two. Our bodies must kick into muscle-memory mode to recall this '90s dancing style and we try to take our lead from those enviable backing dancers. TLC choose not to 'replace' Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - no one could; her own recorded vocal supplies parts in absentia, and T and C can't help but mime along. There are a few "TLC babies" in the audience rocking Lopes's distinctive single, black warpaint stripe (under left eye, of course) accompanied by super-fan adults enjoying the extra attention that rolling with a cuteness-magnet affords them.

T-Boz and Chilli slip easily into the chorey for random sections (albeit T-Boz half-heartedly at times). Then our masked DJ even has a crack! Diggin' On You gets us grinding and then Chilli selects two 'volunteers' (one of which stand on his seat and waves like an Air Dancer to attract her attention) for guest starring roles as red chairs are placed on stage. It starts to feel a little Magic Mike. The chosen ones wind up sitting on a red chair each while T and C give them (almost) lap dances. "Are you good?" C asks the enthusiastic victim. "I've been waiting 22 years for this," he replies, in absolute delayed teen-dream heaven. She cracks up.  

After these gents return to their seats, we notice Chilli clocking a tall, dark and handsome specimen midway back in the orchestra section, on the aisle, who's chewing gum. She pulls an "I SEE you" smile, mimics him gum chewing motion and we can just tell she wishes she'd spotted him earlier for the show's audience-participation section.

When the TLC boss ladies take a break off stage, we notice their DJ is now wearing sunnies over his mask, a different one decorated with sequinned flames. A fan wanders down the aisle to snap a better photo and, as an usher approaches to tell her off, this opportunist's mate yells, "She's Irish!" as if by way of explanation. TLC acknowledge they've been around for 24 years and thank us for our continued support. Chilli tells us T-Boz is scared of dogs, but, strangely, loves to bark. T-Boz then encourages us to bark along with her and we fear the DJ will cue Who Let The Dogs Out by Baha Men. After T-Boz tells us they haven't released any new music in 14 years, they sing a new song she says is an antidote for cyber bullying, Haters. A worthy message, but the song's a shocker.

As soon as those opening No Scrubs guitar trills sound, however, all is forgiven: "Hangin' out the passenger side of his best friend's ride/Tryin' to holler at me!" The Lopes rap breakdown here is a highlight. We're all clearly still waiting for Waterfalls, though, which closes their set together with the sea of waving smartphone torches we're encouraged to brandish skyward. What a joyous celebration! We hope Lopes is gazing down upon us. After much pressing of flesh for the front rows and those who scurry down the aisles for T and C's touch, the ladies leave the stage. The venue sound system kicks in and just when we think it's all over, T-Boz and Chilli return to the stage to wave and give fans another opportunity for a hand shake/fingertip brush. They say they'll be back. We'll be there.