Metropolis Fremantle was warped back in time on Saturday as the Vengaboys took the vibrant crowd back to the 90s. With cowboys, sailors, sequins, fluoro, metallic tight suits, sparkly wigs, and policemen in tow, you could see a taste of Euro pop influencing this notorious nightclub on this occasion.
A house DJ warmed the crowd with old school hits from Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Aqua, Ace of Base, and other remedial classics. The dancing was frantic and the singing was deafening as people reminisced about their golden days.
The Venga Bus, which started its journey from Amsterdam, stopped off to party central with a boisterous crowd taking up a fare. “The party people are uniting,” a loud voiceover announced, “Governments are trying to stop us. Get ready!”
The four embellished members of the group took to the stage with outfits only fitting for pop stars with an attitude.
Lead lady Kim Sasabone wore a black tight corset exposing her luscious chest and gold trimmed shorts adding some shine. Blondie Denise Post-Van Rijswijk of course dazzled in a pink dress, fitting her persona and character perfectly.
Robin Pors who returned to the group after chasing a solo career, wore a bright red sequin onesie with a plunging neck line revealing his well adjusted body. JJ Van Zon was accompanied by a ‘yee-ha’ cowboy hat and sparkled in bright pink sequins, which he enjoyed strip teasing off.
They performed their numerous hits flirtatiously, their legacy of backing tracks and inclusive party-centric anthems including ‘Boom Boom Boom Boom’, ‘We Like To Party,’ ‘Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine),’, ‘Shalala lala’; and many more.
Brilliant crowd interaction encouraged respose in words, action, and motive. To give the team a break between each ditty, a member would slowly work in a popular song while rambling and wasting time. For example, Nelly’s 2002 hit ‘Hot In Herre’, was JJ Van Zon’s opportunity to take off his shirt and announce that he “loves to be naked” for his fans.
No one would have attended the gig expecting to hear flawless, on the money vocals, but for a group who jumped, slipped, grinded, and thrusted more than anyone else, they delivered a high energy, entertaining illustration. While choreographed dance moves made the show feel like an aerobics class.
The only time vocals seemed a little off, was when they decided to do a cover medley of popular songs like ‘I Like To Move It’ or LMFAO’s ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ each adjusted slightly to work in the Vengaboys brand.
This was the Vengaboys last show on their Australian tour. The “best in the west”, they called it, thanking all their fans, managers, crew, and joked about thanking their band and back up dancers.
From a group that once got the world moving, they still managed to inspire hundreds of people to jive to the ‘Boom Boom’ of the Venga Bus.
