To Hammersmith and an awesome show!!!
Atomic Kitten’s Right Now Tour 2002

Hammersmith Apollo, London 8/4/2002

What a night! The last date of the Kitten’s tour saw them appear in London at the Hammersmith Apollo – we were there and we can tell you exactly what happened!

It was very busy as we came in – so many people outside were getting excited, many more inside producing their key to the event – the ticket (of course!) and many buying exclusive Atomic Kitten goodies – T-shirts, posters, caps, and of course, the wonderful and fully illustrated tour programme!

As we went into the main event, we actually got a good seating position not far from the stage. Everyone was getting in too and we were eagerly waiting while there was loud music from the likes of Steps, Robbie Williams, Destiny’s Child and Ronan Keating (recordings that is!).

Eventually, after a short wait, the lights went down…and then the audience roared and screamed. In fact, they were to scream more when the name “Atomic Kitten” was called!!

:: Kiara hunter
But, before the main act were to actually begin, we were presented with the support guest of the night, it was Kiara Hunter who was accompanied with professional dancers (and we mean professional!). Her music wasn’t bad, very upbeat and really cool pop tunes – but as we said before the best part of the night was really the dancers! Half-way, Kiara introduced herself and the dancers who did some fun stuff – then it was a couple more performances. The audience did seem to enjoy her company, but not all of the people were in just yet (in fact, the row behind us was completely empty!).

:: The interval
As the act was finished, the lights went back on and then there was about a 40 minute wait before the main act, more music was playing while more people came into the theatre. There was a couple of things going on then, people filming, a couple taking snapshots (but unfortunately for us fans, we wouldn’t have been allowed!), and people serving food. However the best bit was to come…

:: Atomic Kitten!
Finally, the lights went down and you could see the band members quickly take in their positions – of course, they are called ‘The Fat Cats’! Then suddenly, we heard the familiar voices of the Kittens joking about – the audience were screaming now! After that, a sample of Tom Jones’s ‘Pussycat’ started playing which then got the band playing a short introduction. Then the Kittens came on stage! They were wearing white tops with combo bottoms, Lil was wearing blue, Tash was wearing pink and Jenny was wearing white. They started off the show with the upbeat tune, ‘Right Now’. By then they got the audience to stand up, clap their hands and dance along. The show got off to a very good start indeed and the Kittens were enjoying it as much as the audience did. They occasionally waved at the audience which made it that extra exciting. They introduced themselves after ‘Right Now’ and greeted London! After, they flowed in naturally to their next dance tune, ‘Turn Me On’ – Tash was taking the lead vocals for this song. They occasionally danced up the stairs and took positions on the upper stage. For the final set of songs this part of the show, they sang a cover of Kool & The Gang’s song, ‘Get Down On It’ in which Jen took the lead vocals. Dancers also entered the stage making the song even more exciting! The Kittens then left the stage for a costume change ready for the next set.

The band played some music for a short while and then the Kittens returned wearing purple and black clothes, Jen and Lil were wearing leather trousers. They started their next set with their second number 1 single, the cover of the Bangles’ ‘Eternal Flame’ where the audience started waving their hands in the air during the song which was nice and smoochy! After, the backstage people came in with three big sofa beanbags positioned in specific positions, Lil sat on the left, Tash in the middle and Jen on the right. Before the Kittens started, Jen asked the audience if they had the ‘Right Now’ album – and of course the response was positive (and we guess the vast majority, do own this number 1 album – we do!). They performed the next song from their album, ‘Tomorrow & Tonight’ which was a nice tune indeed and sung brilliantly! The Kittens got up from the sofa beanbags and danced into the next two tunes, they started with ‘Hippy’ and did interesting step-by-step style dance moves which was great! It was then over to ‘Get Real’ – and by the way, the audience were standing up while these songs were performed, many clapping their hands and some getting into the groove of things. The Kittens then said that they would be performing smoochy tunes in the next set, they left ready for another costume change.

Things got calm as the guitarist, Jules of the Fat Cats sat on the stairs as Lil entered the stage on her own dressed in white performed the wonderful ballad, ‘Strangers’. It was sung beautifully and the audience loved it! Tash and Jen joined Lil for the next song. The Kittens sang the nice smooth ballad, ‘Cradle’ before moving on where they went back to the early days of the Kittens music career by singing the song ‘Follow Me’ where they got the audience to clap along with the song and they did! Things started to get a little upbeat as Tash told the audience about people asking them about a particular song they would love to see them perform, that song was of course ‘You Are’ and the band played this song very well and so did the Kittens and the audience waved their hands once again. The backstage people returned to the stage with three stools. Tash asked the audience if they would like a treat – the audience screamed. Then Tash asked if the audience would like a big treat! The audience screamed even louder!! The Kittens performed their new single ‘It’s OK’ (due out on 20th May 2002) and before they did perform it, Jen said to the audience, “Are you going to get the single when it is released?”, and “Are you sure?” – the audience shouted yes. Jen then said in a funny way “You better!” (we will Jen don’t worry!). Upon hearing the tune for the first time, it is very catchy and upbeat! It was only the first time we heard it – but the tune stuck there! We are very sure this tune will be another hit for the Kittens! The Kittens once again left the stage for yet another costume change while the band continued playing.

The Kittens returned in their final costume change wearing various coloured tops and jeans as they started off a medley – a speeded up version of ‘See Ya’ with ‘I Want Your Love’ sandwiched between. The dancers returned in good style as they danced very well. The audience were told to clap their hands and to dance along this wonderful medley! We loved it and it sound very different to the original but great! Then they got the audience rocking like mad as they sang the cover of Blondie's ‘Kids In America’ and the dance routine was done perfectly and well done! They even involved their band making them sing some parts of the song too. Interesting to see Jen to get the guitarist, Pemo to join in! Unfortunately, they told the audience that they had reached the end of the show and most appropriately sang the song ‘Bye Now’ – everyone at this point waved goodbye as the song reached the end… the Kittens waved and left the stage. But was it over yet?

Suddenly, the Kittens voices were heard, they were asking “Do you think the audience have had enough?” and then Jen asked “I can’t hear them [the audience] saying ‘more’!”. We think the audience then realised and shouted more and more!!! After a while, the Kittens re-emerged and the audience were happy to see them again. Jen gave a feisty remark “You are going to get more whether you like it or not!” but we think the audience wanted more anyway! There was no guessing what song the Kittens were going to perform next, and anyway, everyone knew the best song was left to last. It was ‘Whole Again’ of course! The audience even knew the words to the song! The Kittens even got some of the audience to sing the song, some brave members of the audience sang as the microphones were pointed from the lovely Kittens! Some were too shy, so you could hear some of them singing a little bit! In the bridge part of the song, the Kittens got the audience to sing only – they were satisfied indeed! Tash announced that there was time for one more song – the cover version of the Martha Reeves and The Vandellas’ hit ‘Dancing In The Street’ and many people clapped their hands but there were some particular people who went further and actually danced to the song (we know it because some guy near us was dancing really well as the song played!). In a short part during the song, the Kittens introduced each member of the band, ‘The Fat Cats’ and each member played their part – fantastic! Jen later found this nice cap and she threw her white cap into the audience (some lucky person must have it now!). Funnily enough, Lil put another cap on Jen’s head in a very funny way – it looked nice though! As the song ended, confetti fell from the ceiling – the show was fantastic and superb!

It was indeed a good night, everything was perfect on the night, the Kittens were not nervous, there were no mistakes, and they were really confident! We enjoyed it and we can’t wait (and we’re sure that many are as well) for the Kittens to return on tour again to perform live again!

:: Facts about the gig
The London gig took place at the Carling Hammersmith Apollo, England on the 8th April 2002, the last Kitten gig on their '02 tour.

Reviewed by Atomic Kitten Active, UK, 2002.