Shocking Pink

PINK'S rise has been one of pop's more puzzling conundrums.

Too lightweight to be the punk she thinks she is but too obnoxious to be a pop star, the formerly named Alecia Moore has established herself as one of music's perennially irritating performers.

Her desperation to be seen as a proper rock 'n' roll artist is plain embarrassing - from the way she enters the stage to AC/DC's Highway to Hell to her version of Bohemian Rhapsody that's so abominable it has to be heard to be believed.

The rest of the show comprises a dozen tunes from the tried-and-tested Pink template - think pop-rock guitars and shouty choruses.

There's no denying that underneath it all, there lies a talented singer. But tonight she seems intent on burying her few finer points under a landslide of contrived attitude. RICK MARTIN

SHOWGIRL: Paloma

Caught Live: PALOMA FAITH (Forum, North London ***)

AFTER appearing on Jonathan Ross's TV show, the relatively unknown Paloma swept into the top 10 with her debut album Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?

With so many new female singers knocking about, Paloma manages to stand out from the crowd - partly thanks to her acting experience in films such as St Trinian's and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

On stage she is pure showbiz. Harking back to Judy Garland's era, Paloma's show is as much about spectacle as it is good tunes.

High-kicking along a stage decked out with glitterballs, giant dominoes and garden furniture, Paloma is like a ringmaster as she sings cabaret ballads in a part-Winehouse, part- Minnelli warble.

Though her backing band is dull and the songs aren't always as entertaining as Paloma herself, when it gels it's the best circus in town.

Truth, beauty and a whole lot of theatre.

JOHN EARLS

ONE OF TWO: Craig

Caught Live: THE PROCLAIMERS (Symphony Hall, Birmingham ****)

IT'S been more than 20 years since Letter From America yet curiously the speccy Reid twins are still racking up the hits.

With Charlie on guitar and Craig on penny whistle (or possibly the other way round), their vocals dart back-and-forth.

Mixing rock & roll, soul, blues and country with Celtic rock, they belt their way through Let's Get Married, I'm Gonna Be and Love Can Move Mountains.

Fiddle-player Erica Nockalls joins them for a few numbers, and when the night ends, the Reids are thanked with a standing ovation.

The secret of their longevity's revealed - they're simply a great live band.

DAVE FREAK

SIMM-ERING: John with co-star Lucy Cohu

Caught Live: SPEAKING IN TONGUES (Duke of York Theatre, London ***)

'ELLO, 'ello, 'ello - it's the brilliant Life on Mars star John Simm playing a policeman in an unfamiliar world.

What a neat bit of casting for this psychological whodunnit and who-done-who.

Playwright Andrew Bovell has had a field day creating a script (on which the movie Lantana was based) where characters say the same thing with different meanings. It would be great if these led to a more emotional conclusion - but it's still enjoy- able even if it is "speaking in tongue twisters".

LIZ VERCOE

Booking till Dec 12. 0844 871 7627 or www.ambassadortickets.com

ICE AND SNOW WHITE: With some dwarfs

Caught Live: DISNEY ON ICE: PRINCESS WISHES (O2 Arena, London ****)

WITH the help of Tinker Bell and a sprinkling of fairy dust, this magical performance condenses the story of seven Disney princesses and the moments their dreams come true.

The auditorium is packed with girls in princess outfits. But the dragon, princes and pirates mean there is enough to keep little boys interested too.

If you're a Disney nut, you'll love it. If not, buy your daughter a princess costume and take her anyway. Her smiles will be well worth it.

STUART JEFFERY

AT the O2 until Nov 8; Nottingham Trent FM Arena, Nov 11-15; Sheffield Arena, Nov 17-22; Liverpool Echo Arena, Nov 25-29.

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