Live Review: TLC, DJ Def Rok

TLC fans are a mixed bag of crazy, sexy and cool, but mainly hoochie. DJ Def Rok – sporting a kilt, purple Mohawk and creepy black rubber mask – spins appropriate '90s hits to set the scene and, right on time, a crew of dancers swarm the stage and bust out the fluid style of funk dancing that was typical of their era. Plus one remarks that these TLC dancers are dressed like Bounty bars. There's a three-piece backing band plus DJ Def Rok and as soon as Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas (the two remaining members of TLC) appear, all rise, the duo resplendent in customised electric blue leather pit suits with bras exposed. The chairs/stools that are brought to the stage as props could easily have been collected from hard rubbish en route to the venue and the vocal backing tracks are so loud that it's difficult to differentiate what's live from what's pre-recorded, but other than these coupla small gripes it's a slick operation, and when T-Boz and Chilli wave at crowd members, even this is choreographed and perfectly timed.         

When the horn sample trumpets Creep's intro, we all imitate the bowlegged dance demonstrated via the song's video that plays out on a strip of screen hanging from the flies, upstage centre. Many in the house sing back every Damaged lyric, but it's Unpretty (which T-Boz explains is based on a poem) that coaxes mass recording devices out of pockets. 'T' and 'C' certainly love a bit of an offstage rest, but we're thoroughly entertained in their absence by either DJ Def Rok in his hype-man guise or those exquisite dancers. As “Dem TLC Dancers” flashes across the back screen we are introduced to each one by name as they strut short solos and flash their tricks. Crowd members look on, slack-jawed, like, 'WhAAAAaaaaaat?' Def Rok shares a story about a so-called lady named Solo who allegedly called him a name. Turns out that name was “Scrub” – segue alert! No Scrubs is a highlight and our muscle memories kick in to bust out some antique moves. Hearing Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes rapping from beyond the grave is less disturbing than it sounds, because her flow could not be replaced by just anyone.   

There's an encore fake out because we haven't yet heard Waterfalls. Dancers convincingly re-enact arguments during verses and we're transported back to a time when scrunchies adorned 'dos. TLC plug their VH1 telemovie CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which they tell us will get an Australian release, then they leave us with Meant To Be (ft Ne-Yo), the song they released to coincide with said flick. It sounds like a '90s classic with its crisp, closing finger snaps and we Creep out of the venue spotting Lopes-inspired, under-left-eye warpaint on the faces of diehard fans.