Saturday Feb 27th. Review by CADBURY

The night started off with an anxious audience wondering exactly what was going to happen at this sell-out show. The Astor Theatre had been Fordified; there were milk crates, lights and computer screens across the front of the stage. An eerie “I can hear you” started the set off; a whole new level of mindfuck.

BAM! The set started off with ‘Five Times’; the intro of which displayed exactly what Tomás Ford wanted to do with the screens “Do not be alarmed” “Remember the safe word”. The safe word wasn’t quite a word: “Fuck me harder”. The first song set the audience’s minds at ease, it was just another crazy Tomás Ford show, but different.

Ford spent the first few songs showing off his new set and costumes. Glitter disco pants with a custom added crotch pocket to fit his microphone in left the audience wondering ‘is that your microphone or are you just happy to see us’. Not to mention his new jacket with neon tube lights installed as trim.

The second track, ‘Six Times’, took the form of a sad sing along ballad about some mishaps Ford had with an audience member. The audience sang the lines “maybe you should apologise to me” when it flashed upon the several screens at the front of the theatre.

The show ‘interval’ happened in the form of an acoustic song with audience helpers “Brett” and “Julie” who were random people pulled from the audience and assigned names before they had the chance to tell their own names. Brett and Julie’s job was to hold the microphones, as microphone stands usually get tripped over in Ford’s shows. During the song, Ford started serenading Julia who informed him her actual name was in fact Ray, and yes she normally did date alcoholics.

‘The Loudspeeka (Remix)‘ was the perfect balance of Tomas Ford: part disco, part rave with some rap thrown in, the song itself was a treat. The screens behind him were full of Ford’s favourite things. Nerds beware. The graphics were taken from an old space invaders game, along with words that dribbled shit about Ford’s inability to deejay and rap superimposed on top.

The show ended with ‘Cuddle’ in usual Ford fashion. The audience were encouraged to stand up the front of the theatre and join in a large group hug before they went home. After a large group hug, Ford instructed the audience to sit on the carpet in front of him like school children while the now Mr. Ford finished the song including screening some information about suicide help lines in case the audience require their services after the show.

The audience returned to their seats only to be kicked and dragged out of the venue one by one by Ford himself.