Jonathan Geddes' verdict: two stars
Nostalgia is a powerful tool. S Club 7's heyday may have delivered four chart-topping singles, but they were never capable of generating mass hysteria on a par with Take That or the Spice Girls. However this reunion packed out the Hydro, with an audience wanting to indulge in carefree memories. That arrived, but getting there felt like competing in a marathon while wearing a suit of armour.
The group themselves remain youthful enough to carry off the cheerfulness needed for their family-friendly pop style, but the songs have dated poorly, and they were rarely substantial to begin with. If an early S Club Party possessed some retro pep then any momentum soon stalled, hindered by procession line pop beats, lumbering melodies and strangely smooth vocals.
Pop as a whole has changed since they called it a day, and it was noticeable how tame their stage school shtick appeared, while their stage set was minimalist, only offering up dancers, a dash of confetti and flames and a few costume changes, including some outfits on Viva La Fiesta that suggested an explosion in a paint factory.
A lengthy period where each member got to a solo spot was less pop gig and more the seven labours of S Club, plodding through Tina Barrett's throwaway Stronger, Paul Cattermole's acoustic Reach and a DJ set by Bradley McIntosh that resembled a bloke rocking up at a village fete.
At least McIntosh looked cheerful throughout, and there were a few highlights that deserved the nostalgic goodwill - sweet balled Have You Ever, the fresh-faced Bring It All Back and Reach's positive pop. It was mostly mediocre revivalism though, illustrated when a cover of Uptown Funk outstripped their own back catalogue.
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