Photo + Words: Felix Hick

The Scissor Sisters brought the kiki to Scarborough North Bay on Saturday night at the Open Air Theatre, a venue that has really been building a strong reputation for bringing big acts down to the Yorkshire town. The group brought a magnificent, glittering return to the dancefloor, which the venue itself seemed to transform into from the very start of the show, with a jump right into I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’, and then hit after hit with Laura, She’s My Man, I Can’t Decide, and Invisible Light to name a bunch.

From the moment Shears appeared on stage, his energy was incredibly charismatic, theatrical, and he was barely still for a moment, his presence commanding the stage with the effortless skill and confidence of a frontman who knows exactly who his audience is –  and exactly what they want. The voice of Scissor Sisters remains a defining part of the group’s sound, but their live performance demonstrated that their physicality, connection with people, and ability to perform what feels like a whole Broadway production may be what makes the biggest impression.

The tour features three members of the original group – Babydaddy, Del Marquis, and of course Jake Shears, who are joined on stage by  Amber Martin, Bridget Barkan, Randy Real, and Karme Caruso –  Together, they are every bit of what a great live show should be: tight, punchy, hilarious, and gloriously flamboyant. Their performance seamlessly moved between disco, glam, pop, and rock, elevated at every turn by an array of props, outfits, and choreography, every song bringing a new visual surprise, keeping energy high and the audience entertained.

And fun was very much the order of the night,but there was also a sense of genuine celebration running through the night. The Scissor Sisters have always understood that pop music can be ridiculous, sexy, theatrical, fun, and ultimately an art form. Their music has the rare ability to exist beyond the boundaries of age or generations, bringing different people together through the simple pleasure of dancing, singing, and just having a good time.

The evening was also given a fabulous introduction by two support acts, Indie pop band The Hidden Cameras, and Bimini, drag queen, DJ, and singer. Both acts brought something entirely different to the stage, but each succeeded in firing up the crowd and setting the tone for the evening that followed.

After years away, their return to the stage was everything their fans could have hoped for; colourful, chaotic, and unapologetically queer. It was a reminder of just how profoundly they shaped queer pop and pop culture, and why they became so beloved in the first place. More than anything, it demonstrated the power of a great pop show when it refuses to take itself too seriously, while taking its audience, its joy, and its sense of community completely seriously. And as the final notes of Music is the Victim faded, one thing was definitely clear, the kiki was very much still alive within the crowd as they exited the venue still singing and dancing from the buzz.

Photo Credit: Felix Hick