Christiania Theater (Side2): The year is 2000. A1 has just released their new single "Same old brand new you", and I’m practicing the dance steps in front of the mirror with a hand brush as a microphone.

There’s a big discussion in the girl gang on who’s the hottest of Christian, Ben, Paul and Mark, and at the age of 11 years, life seems like a big world of possibilities. Almost ten years have passed, Paul has left the band and I had forgotten how delightful A1 really is. But tonight, the feelings came back.

Back to the girl room
It could have been embarrassing, and I must admit I was sceptical for the opening night concert. At Christiania Theater, a relatively small hall with a seating area, were A1 going to celebrate their 10th anniversary, the first of seven before-Christmas concerts.

But even when the gospel choir HIM started the evening with "Everywhere that I go", followed by the three boys with "Same old brand new you" I felt like a teenager again, along with all the others girls in their early twenties.

Just like the "old days" sat Mark behind the piano, Christian with the guitar, while Ben danced around a bit, and they started with one forgotten hit after another.  "Be the first to believe" and the big hit "Summertime of our lives", not to mention of "Like a rose".

The old dance steps are still there, and in a typical boy band style was hips and hand movements synchronized.

Touching solo
As they said themselves, the evening was a celebration of past, present and future. Plus some solo stuff, and Christmas itself. That all this was pushed into just over two hours was unfortunately somewhat ambitious, and between the hits, it was a bit boring - at times.

At the same time, it was exciting to see what the three boys have been up to in the last few years. In particular was Ben Adams solo, "She's out of my life", a fantastic moment. When they started to sing a medley of Christmas songs, everyone jumped out of their seats, and sang and danced along with the boys.

They had also included two new songs, "Take You Home" and "It happens every day."

Full of self-irony
A1 can not be taken to be something else than a grown up boy band, and we judge after that. Luckily, the guys had lots of charm and self-irony. They loved being back on stage and seemed surprised that people remembered the lyrics.

After everyone had sung, danced and screamed along with "Everytime", they went of the stage before the encore, but promised that they would come back. Then they came back and ended the show with "Take On Me" and the ultimate hit "Caught in the middle."

They overcame all the scepticism, and met all expectations. I almost want to hang up the old posters again.

Side 2 Review

Special thanks to Catharina who translated from Norwegian