Playing the biggest concert of her career, Paloma Faith made an entrance at the O2 that befitted an eccentric pop princess.
Resembling a doll loo roll holder in her cage crinoline skirt (“I used to pull pints wearing this”), she arrived on a stark stage with a vintage record player and launched into trip-hop torch song Let Your Love Walk In.
Faith’s pop vision was translated to the stage with impeccable attention to detail. As she sang, the set gradually appeared around her with theatrical finesse: golden trees, mirrored steps, a grand piano and 20 or so musicians and a conductor for the string section. Even the roadies were wearing bow ties and tails.
“Here I am living the dream and half selling out the O2 Arena,” said the singer from Hackney, though sales were stronger than her disarming humour might suggest and Faith had the uplifting tunes and personality to pull off a storming arena show.
If her voice needed a heave to reach the high notes early on, she soon hit her stride on the throbbing synth-pop of Agony, an alluring combination of vampish drama and toothy smiles as she waved to the crowd.
Support act Laura Mvula joined her for a glorious vocal duel on Seventies soul anthem I Can’t Stand the Rain, and Faith braved an unrehearsed rendition of Etta James’s I’d Rather Go Blind featuring a bloke she met in a bar. Fortunately, he fronts rock-soul band Vintage Trouble and serenaded her like James Brown.
Faith’s own songs were even more exultant. She soared on Adele-style ballad Streets of Glory, hugged fans during the infectious 30 Minute Love Affair and clambered atop the piano for a rollicking Freedom, her skirt having been discarded to reveal a sparkly catsuit.
Glitter rained down for the gospel-tinged Picking Up the Pieces and Faith couldn’t resist Instagramming her huge audience. There won’t be any empty seats next time.
