Sunday, July 12, 1998

Spiceship throttles up

The spaceship Spice finally landed last night at Molson Amphitheatre.

And while the Spice Girls' Toronto debut wasn't exactly the spectacular pop event that everyone -- make that anyone under 12 and female -- had been waiting for all summer, it certainly wasn't a crash-landing either.

After a surprisingly mellow first half, the Spice Girls finally got the audience on their feet and dancing in the second half with such crowd-pleasers as Sisters (Are Doing It For Themselves), Wannabe, Spice Up Your Life, and the concert-ending We Are Family.

It was a welcome change of mood, frankly, from the slow first half, during which the crowd, apart from letting out ear-piercing screams when the four Spices first took the stage via a video-screened spaceship, seemed almost star struck.

And it wasn't as if Scary, Baby, Posh and Sporty -- still a formidable foursome even with the departure of most outspoken member Ginger in May -- weren't really trying.

Now almost half-way through their 39-date North American tour, they have their dance moves -- with six Spice Boy dancers (including Scary's ex-fiance) -- stage patter and costume changes down to a science.

In fact, it was all so choreographed that a little spontaneity might have helped lift that sluggish first half.

Over the course of two hours and 19 songs, there was certainly no mention of the controversy surrounding Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman, who has refused to present the Spices with the keys to the city during today's Intimate & Interactive at MuchMusic, beginning at 4 p.m.

Lastman says he's mad at them for not agreeing to perform a free concert at Mel Lastman Square.

Thank goodness, then, a young boy was pulled out of the audience to be serenaded by Baby during her solo on Where Did Our Love Go. He even got a kiss on the cheek at the end of the song.

As for the rest of the Spices, it was only after the first couple of songs, If You Can't Dance -- which seemed to feature pre-recorded vocals -- and Who Do You Think You Are, and a costume change or two, that they really hit their groove.

Sporty proved she has the strongest voice of the bunch by belting out the opening to Do It -- the first song on which the four Girls were joined by the Spice Boys.

Provocative dance moves aside -- at one point they all individually rode their designated Spice Boy horsey-style -- this tune also seemed to be a notch above much of the throwaway, if catchy, pop that makes up the Spice two-album catalogue.

So too did Stop, an upbeat black-and-white extravaganza featuring the Spice Boys in T-shirts that spelled out S-P-I-C-E and Ginger still a presence in the background video.

One thing is undeniable -- the Spice Girls seem confident and comfortable on their sleek, silver, multi-tiered stage as elborate lighting shines on their perfectly made-up faces and toned bodies.

And for the top ticket price of $55.50 (scalpers outside were asking $150 about an hour before the show began) you could do a lot worse on a Saturday night.

Incidentally, British soccer player David Beckham, who has been AWOL from England after his team was beaten by Argentina at the World Cup, was seen backstage with fiance Posh.

Beckham, you may recall, was sent off half-way through the game after he kicked an Argentinian player and England was forced to play the remaining time a man down.

Set List If you can't dance  Who do you think you are?  Do it  Denying  Too much  Stop  Where did our love go?  Move over  -- intermission --  Lady is a vamp  Say you'll be there  Naked  2 Become 1  Walk of Life  Sisters (Are doing it for themselves)  Wannabe  Spice Up Your Life  Mama    ENCORE  Viva Forever  Never Give Up on the Good Times  We are family  Running Time: 1 h 45 m + 30 m intermission