A mere half an hour after start time, she appeared on stage at the top of a riser making good use of the height of The Roundhouse, with a moody verison of 'Nighclubbing', Grace posing and revelling in the adulation. Down to the stage she came and into the wings for the first of her costume/image changes which she did inbetween every song. She talked to us from the wings, sharing snippets with us about how she desperately needed a suck, how she didn't mean to hit her dresser so early in the evening, and how she's really an alien. I believed. Only a fool would dare not to believe.
Much as I like The Roundhouse, it wasn't right for Grace - the stage wasn't big enough. The massive riser took up much of the stage with the band below it and the front part of the stage taken up with two platforms for Grace to pose on and a massive wind machine. She really needed a bigger stage but gave us a fab show nonetheless.
Highlights were the fabulous 'Williams Blood', and 'This Is' from the new album, 'Demolition Man', 'La Vie En Rose' (in an extra large white top hat and black tails), 'Pull Up To The Bumper' and 'Slave To The Rhythm' during which she proved herself to be the hula-hoop queen by keeping it going throughout the song. There was an astonishing version of 'Love Is The Drug' with Grace on stage with only a green lazer shining on her bowler hat and, like Noddy Holder, she used the hat to fling spears of light around the auditorium. And she finished with a draining version of 'Hurricane' with her cloak billowing out behind her as she staggered to stand against the wind machine as it grew in strength and power, finally blowing her to the ground. A truly magnificent performance.
It was a delight to share in the mad world of Miss Grace Jones for a couple of hours, and some marvellous performances I won't soon forget.
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