It might have been 25 years since the original line up of Five performed together but their Keep On Movin’ Tour rolled back into Leeds for the second time for the 23rd of 25 dates around the UK.
They kicked off the 21-song set with a literal slam dunk, as the crowd exploded to the opening of Slam Dunk Da Funk, with the band lining up at the rear of the stage in silhouette before bouncing down the stage to break out the familiar dance routines. Got The Feelin’ saw the five-piece heading from the main stage and around the walkway getting close to those fans in the front row, and reaching out to those in the “golden circle” surrounded by the walkway. They spend a lot of time among the fans throughout the show, revelling in the reverie that only a comeback tour can deliver.
There’s at least one monologue from each member, telling us how grateful they are, how much they’ve missed one another and the fans, touching on their individual journeys. It slows things down a little at times, and the band, known for their party anthems, sometimes take a while to get the momentum back up again. There are some laboured metaphors, culminating in a quote from Rocky Balboa that segues into Invincible.
The fans don’t mind through, and it’s amazing to watch how many of them can recall the dance steps from routines more than a quarter of a century old. But remember they do, rolling back the years and throwing themselves into the atmosphere. On the stage – and around the arena – some of those dance moves are a bit more pedestrian than they were in the late 90s, and (if you’ll permit me another Rocky / boxing metaphor), they’re all a bit ring-rusty.
Still, the near sellout audience are unfazed. There are screams, dancing and a lot of smiles as the crowd enjoy the undeniable nostalgia with the band rifling through a mix of hits and some deeper cuts. We Will Rock You, their Brit-opening collaboration with Queen gets everyone on their feet. Looking around the arena, even those in the posh hospitality seats got up for this one, hands in the air and chanting the chorus.
Finishing strongly with Let’s Dance, Everybody Get Up and Keep On Movin’ is the perfect way to round off a tour through the turn of the century tunes. Was it the most polished show I’ve seen this year? Probably not, as the years out of the limelight have caught up with the band to some extent. But with memories flooding back from late-90s nights leaving a near-constant smile on my face, I’d say it was definitely one of the most fun.
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