Live Report: Sugababes – The Garage, London

We live in difficult times. The days are short and bitter, many of us are living paycheck to paycheck, and every time we open the news we are inundated by stories of suffering. In times like these it’s easy to get lost in sentiment for years gone by. As the audience filtered into The Garage for Wednesday evening’s War Child charity show, it’s fair to assume many felt a pang of apprehension that the iconic Sugababes would have succumbed to the tarnishing of time. 

Inside the venue however, excited chatter filled the room and classic pop tunes, perfectly curated by DJ Ace, created a buzzing atmosphere. This wasn’t exactly the kind of audience that has become associated with the Sugababes in recent years, less drunken hen-dos and more of an eclectic mix of trendy individuals. Sure, there was plenty of drink going round, but there was also a sense of unsullied pleasure as people braced for an evening of pure nostalgic bliss in aid of a greater cause. 

As the group took the stage in a signature girl-band dramatic fashion, with swelling guitars and dramatic lights, the atmosphere bordered on ecstatic. Much to mine, and probably many more in the audience’s, relief the trio’s voices remain outstanding. The slower tracks, particularly ‘Stronger’, demonstrated their remarkable tones and undeniable harmonic brilliance. This allowed for genuinely emotional moments, in which the original trio, reunited after decades of internal drama and external trauma, seemed to reflect on the changes that had happened over their career. This melancholic tint was shared by both the Sugababes and audience alike, as both meditated on what each track had meant for them all those years ago, and what they meant for them now. 

However, it was in the moments of sheer pop brilliance that the Sugababe’s revelance in the modern day really took a hold. Though the choreography wasn’t perfectly polished, the unquestionable appeal of the group’s hits radiated throughout the crowd and reminded everyone how great unabashedly joyful pop music can make you feel. There really feels like a space still exists in modern music for timeless hits like the ones produced by the Sugababes. The original lineup clearly still have the talent and enthusiasm, audiences want to hear music that is fun and liberating, and this show served as a testament to how much unadulterated joy can be accessed if we all realised how ridiculous the idea of a “guilty” pleasure really is.  

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Words: Eve Boothroyd

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