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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
David Smyth's rating
Reader rating
Description: Blues and soul from the young singer-songwriter.
Phone: 0870432 5527
Website: www.koko.uk.com
Email: boxoffice@koko.uk.com
Trains: Tube: Mornington Crescent 
Extra info: Pub
Absolutely not fabulous: the crowd booed Ms Stone's lateness
At 19, soul star Joss Stone seems to be going through something of a mid-life crisis. She has discredited her old albums, ditched her hippy look for tight dresses and hair like a burning bush, freely admitted to smoking cannabis and, worst of all, allowed Vinnie Jones to guest on her latest record.
Never mind the Devon girl's strange mid-Atlantic accent, much ridiculed after a bizarre cameo at the Brit awards.
Gallery: See more pictures from the gig here
I met her three years ago and she talked that way then. The real worry is that Stone could be turning into one of the other guests on next week's new album - Lauryn Hill, high priestess of flakiness.
The doors at last night's show opened at 7pm and Stone finally appeared two and a half hours later, with no support acts in between. You have to be truly fabulous to win back a crowd that is booing before your arrival, and she wasn't fabulous enough.
Playing a theatre show at club volume was her second mistake. Audience chatter almost drowned out much of the music. She also began the set with three unreleased songs, when a couple of familiar hits might just about have got people back onside.
There was nothing wrong with the new material. Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now had an appealing lazy groove, while Girl They Won't Believe It had more in common with the nu-soul of Jill Scott or Alicia Keys than the vintage stars to whom she has previously been compared.
Put Your Hands On Me sounded like the future hit to win over the doubters. With its stop-start beat and swaying horns, it resembled Amy Winehouse's Rehab with even more vocal acrobatics.
That freakishly powerful singing voice remains extraordinary, but she did herself no favours when talking between songs. Giggly schoolgirl charm has been replaced by rambling self-indulgence.
There was enough time to go to the bar, to the lavatory and to catch the end of the football in the pub across the road during her excruciating introduction to another new song, Music.
A couple of old favourites, Jet Lag and Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me), pleased some of, but not all, the long-term fans.
Only once before at a gig has an audience member spotted my pen and pulled me aside to make sure I noted how short-changed they felt.
After her encore she threw flowers into the crowd - flowers being necessary, of course, when someone needs to apologise.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Joss Stone has been vilified recently in certain sections of the press and the sales of her current album, so far have not matched their predecessors but tonight Joss let her "Music" do the talking. I defy anyone not to be moved when she sang "Right to be Wrong" and with the crowd singing it back to Joss, this was a pure love in. Her voice was supreme throughout, her backing band was tight and funky and was well suited to Indio2. The new material sounded fresh and You Had Me was "FUNKTASTIC". The only downside was why didn't she sing Fell in love With A Boy, that would have ended a perfect night!
- Robert Boyce, Tulse Hill
She was brilliant, and NOT LATE! New songs were great and her outfits were foxy. I think all you people slating her need to get a life! Welcome back Joss you were great can't wait to see you live again!
- Leslie, Wandsworth
Good review, but you may have been too kind. Why was she so late on stage? If it was tehcinical, then there should have been an announcement. If she was just being diva-ish, then she should have been advised that, whilst she was keeping her fans waiting, they were drinking and as a result, they were never going to be the captive audience that she might have wished for. The girl can sing - there is no doubt about that, but she has plenty to learn about perfroming live and I don't think I'll be returning to see her until she has grown up.
- Michael, Newmarket
Are any of you people actually fans of the girl? She is a great vocalist and that's what really matters. If you don't like her and didn't want to hear new songs you shouldn't have gone to the gig! And why is everyone saying she was three hours late? I have never been to a gig where the headline act comes on before 9.30pm. Yes, there should have been a support act, but what was Joss supposed to do, come on at 7.30pm? Then you would have slated her for coming on too early! My only criticism is the 'introducing the band' bit at the end which went on for ages - I would have preferred to hear a few more songs. And she did play for an hour and a half (not an hour as one person said). I've seen her before, live, and look forward to seeing her again - obviously it will be better when the album has been released and we all know the new songs. Those fickle fans who have written her off are not fans worth having!
- Kirsty, Camden
I think she would be a great attribute to this year's Comic Relief, the way she behaved at the Brit Awards was Hilarious. I have Goldfish with more charisma.
- Tones, London
Blimey! What was she on? Could barely hear her to start then those strange half lines mumbled between songs? Another candidate for rehab.
- Paul , South Croydon
I started the booing... didn't think it would hit the papers... sorry!
- Richard, London
Not a review; just to say we have the runner up to Joss in our band (in that BBC show that launched Joss over 3 years ago)! We know who the rightful winner was judging by what we have heard of Joss lately!!
- Anon, Northant
This was one of the most disappointing gigs I have been to in a long time. The gig lasted one hour in total and this included the encore. The lady has an extremely powerful voice, but, you dont treat people like she did - no apologies either.
- Topps, London
Came down specially for this gig and I don't think it was worth the effort. Won't pay to see her again. She has talent but I just don't think she is focusing on that at the moment. Maybe when she has lived the wild life a little we will reconnect.
- Anon, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dreadful night out.
- Mark, Surrey
I thought it was just me that thought it was awful - she said goodnight after about eight songs and loads of people left. She obviously wanted everyone to ask her back for an encore but that didn't really happen either. Had you stayed, it didn't get much better. She changed into a nightie and began rambling. Fantastic figure and voice, but no presence and no interest in her fans.
- Liz, UK
This review is way too harsh. The gig was a showcase for new material so, of course, she was going to play mostly new stuff. She played for one and a half hours, most acts come on at 9.30, so why the criticism of that? Her talking in between songs was friendly and sweet, the fact she got the giggles endears me to her even more, she is human after all! She is an amazing artist with huge talent. The sooner people actually recognise this the better. Her haircolour and clothes are irrelevant, she isn't a pop artist. Welcome back Joss you were awesome and I can't wait to hear the new album as all new songs were great.
- Shirley, Caterham
Oh dear. This review is not harsh at all, it's completely true.
Where were the 'special guests' support act?! Did they pull out the last minute or something? What took her over 2 hours to get on stage? There were many other problems, including her shying away for too long, which forced me to shout out: 'you can do it!' in support. She finally started singing again. It was as if the show hadn't been rehearsed, or even planned. It was so unorganised. You could really feel the audience were never quite feeling it.
Oh well, me and a friend still loved it. Just hoping for a much better performance when she goes on tour!
- Dean, Billericay, UK
I dont think this gig was even worth rating... there was no option for Zero! It was by far one of the worst gigs I've ever been to. She is a good singer but has nowhere near the standard to warrant a nearly 3hr late start... I don't think even the world's top stars would risk anoying their fans that much!
- Craig, London
This was one of the worst gigs I have been to in a long, long time - who exactly does she think she is?
- Chris, London
She was absolutely terrible, she can sing for sure, but she was more into how she looked and thinking all guys in crowd want her, than anything else
The crowd were not happy and I wouldn't pay money to see her again.
She is a little too conceited now for my taste.
- Rob, UK
