Girls Aloud

Yes, Girls Aloud...

Nottingham Arena

Sophie Heawood
Wednesday May 24, 2006

The Guardian

"I just can't believe that, four years on, we're doing an arena tour!" announces Nadine Coyle with genuine astonishment. She's not the only one. While such a comment from an indie band might refer to the alacrity of their success, when you're a manufactured pop band, formed by svengalis on a TV show, you start at the top and the only way is supposed to be down. Yet this is Girls Aloud's second such national jaunt, beginning in the same city and in the same month as last year's.

"We're so excited we can't breathe!" gasps Sarah, as they punch and prance through a demanding choreography routine for 18 songs. Nor can they quite handle their frequent costume changes. Cheryl loses a red stiletto while taking the song Jump literally, Nadine's hand tugs constantly at her bra strap, and Sarah struggles to keep her dominatrix bodice done up. A wardrobe malfunction seems imminent but they just about keep it together. Only Nicola seems to suffer no clothing challenges, but for her, exercising her reluctant smile muscles is work enough.

It's a saucy affair, all bras and hot-pants, and with songs such as Racy Lacy and Watch Me Go, sexual suggestions are everywhere. Yet with an audience made up of mums and their sparkly pink daughters, the level of suggestion is where the sauce remains. Each Girl is paired with a male dancer in a Guys and Dolls set-up, and to add to the Broadway feel they perform a medley of hits from Fame and Footloose, "because she loves musicals, does our Kimbers".

Nadine Coyle carries most of the lead vocals, but each Girl can belt it out when required. Footballer's fiancée she might be, but there's no Posh Spice-style miming in the background from Cheryl Tweedy. During a surprise cover of the Kaiser Chiefs' I Predict a Riot, it seems brave enough to give the famous nightclub brawler the lines about people getting lairy (the word condom is judiciously removed). When she decides to stop singing and start shouting, it's hilarious, and utterly brilliant.

· At Newcastle Arena (0870 707 8000) tonight, then touring.