Dido more a chill-out than a dance party

By SCOTT KARA

Remember the band Big Pig? They were a band of apron-wearing percussionists who sang the 80s hit Breakaway. The belligerent beat of that song is how this Dido concert starts. It's all a bit of a surprise, really.

The pop diva's female percussionist, in the hot, fluoro-pink skin-tight singlet, is definitely something out of the 80s, but you expect Dido to be more of a 90s girl.

Suddenly the climactic drums stop and it's Dido, the woman with the voice that is so everyday, yet so distinctive, standing centre-stage.

Once the more subtle drum'n'bass beats kick in, her self-confessed 90s dance music background shines through - although it has to be said, a Dido concert is more of a giant chill-out than a dance party.

Here With Me, from debut album No Angel, is classic Dido. Her songs are ones that pinch you gently, and give you goosebumps.

"This is a song about wanting to be single again which happens to me every 10 days - 'cause I'm crap," she laughs, as she introduces Let Me Go. The song's big beats and imploring chorus are where the crowd start getting antsy and want to stand up. And they did.

Dido wanted to jump, and she did, and many in the crowd wanted to join her but couldn't. They had to find space to waltz and twirl on the outskirts of the events centre.

At times Dido strolls round like a hip-hop MC rather than a singer, especially when the band are off on their own instrumental tangents, led by drummer, Alex Alexander.

Eminem didn't turn up but the crowd chorus accompanying Thank You - the song Eminem sampled - was a stellar substitute and inspired some Aussie sledging from Dido, who says they weren't very good at singing.

It's a night where the songs float by and hit-after-recognisable-hit is done perfectly. But it's Dido's banter that becomes the most interesting.

"This next song, a lot of people have told me they've used it at their wedding. I apologise to anyone who has used this at their wedding. This is Don't Leave Home - it's about addiction," she deadpans.

For the eagerly demanded encore she's seated behind a keyboard at the front of the stage and says: "It's nice here. When I get married this is where I'm going to have my honeymoon. I'll get a campervan and ... so if you see me here in 30 years, then say, 'Hi'."

Dido's music is too innocuous to be a life-changing concert experience but her humour and barbs are not. She's actually quite cool.

Review

* Who: Dido

* Where and when: North Shore Events Centre, Nov 17

* Reviewed by: Scott Kara