Diversity Is Key To Self Esteem’s Hand-Picked Openers At Hammersmith

by | Mar 16, 2023

While Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s Self Esteem was the main draw to a sold out show at West London’s Hammersmith Apollo, it would be remiss not to share news of the other acts gracing the hallowed Apollo stage tonight.

Self Esteem @ Hammersmith Apollo

First up, playing a delightful if brief 12-minute set is Corby-hailing, London-residing former Self Esteem singer Kelli Blanchett. Appearing on stage accompanied simply with an electric guitar, she offers: “This is big isn’t it?” before going on to talk about her EP, produced by tonight’s headliner herself: Rebecca Taylor.

Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo

Sorrowful ballad Baby is shared first. Peaceful When You Sleep describes the joy of alone time once a partner has gone to sleep before Blanchett offers a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit I’m On Fire.

  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Kelli Blanchett @ Hammersmith Apollo

Next up is non-binary drag artist Tom Rasmussen – AKA Crystal Rasmussen when in drag. They tease, dressed in an all-enclosing raincoat before it is shed during dance tune Fantasy Island Obsession. “I’m here to get you ready for Self Esteem, so let’s dance!” he offers to cheers, thumping backing tracks kicking off Fabulous Opera, Rasmussen parading about the Hammersmith stage.

Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo

“These songs are about being trans and being queer and trying to navigate a world that’s not typically designed for … anyone really” they continue, speaking about their upcoming record Body Building. Arthur Russell cover This is How We Walk On The Moon is offered to the “6 Music dads in the room” before storming synth-led Safe showcases the incredible falsetto Rasmussen offers.

  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Tom Rasmussen @ Hammersmith Apollo

But it is RuPaul’s Drag Race star Bimini (formally Bimini Bon Boulash) that warms the crowd up properly. They appear on stage alongside a full band comprised of guitarist/keyboard player Kit, drummer Maxie Cheer and bass player Tyler Damara Kelly, their body covered up with a huge blue faux-fur coat.

Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo

“Hammersmith Apollo, let’s go!” they scream, the dance tune When The Party Ends accentuated by their London-accented spoken singing style. “My mum’s in the audience somewhere, hello mum!” they share “hopefully you’re having a Bacardi” they continue, to chuckles from the crowd before introducing a cover of Lily Allen’s The Fear, stating that Allen is “one of the best female lyricists of our generation”. Debatable. But this is the opportunity for Bimini to shed the coat, exposing what lies beneath to an enamoured West London crowd.

Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo

Jungle beats and reggae guitar-infused Sex Drugs Disco is offered up to anyone having had to deal with addiction. “If you know it, sing along. If you don’t, try” laughs Bimini as they introduce dance tune Different Kinds Of People. But it is the opening bars of New Order classic Blue Monday which kicks off a 1980s medley that has the crowd jumping, Dead Or Alive’s 1985 hit You Spin Me Round taking a turn in the eclectic mix.

  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo
  • Bimini @ Hammersmith Apollo

Live commentary and photography @ Hammersmith Apollo by Kalpesh Patel on 11th March 2023

Self Esteem Brings Pop Mastery To Hammersmith

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age @ iTunes Festival 2013 (Kalpesh Patel)

Queens Of The Stone Age Announce Intimate European ‘Catacombs’ Tour, Including Special London Show

Queens Of The Stone Age have today unveiled details of their eagerly awaited Catacombs European Tour – a string of uniquely atmospheric shows inspired by their acclaimed 2024 Alive In The Catacombs performance. The tour, set for October 2025, will include a standout UK date at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 29th October, promising a rare and intimate reimagining of the band’s formidable back catalogue.

Alice Merton @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Trudi Knight)

Alice Merton Brings Sharp Pop Precision To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

As the sun began to dip behind the trees in Hyde Park on 11th July, a throng of festival-goers packed into the Rainbow Stage area, drawn by the magnetic presence of German-Canadian artist Alice Merton. The singer-songwriter—best known for her breakout hit No Roots—delivered a punchy, emotionally agile set that brought the stage to a vibrant close, just before Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts took the spotlight over on the festival’s main Great Oak Stage.

Brian Molko of Placebo @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

Placebo Announce Deluxe Collection This Search For Meaning, Featuring Documentary, Live Album & Bonus Tracks

Anglo-American alt-rock icons Placebo have announced This Search For Meaning, a four-disc deluxe collection arriving 12th September via SO Recordings. The package offers a comprehensive portrait of the band’s current creative era, combining introspective documentary filmmaking with live performance energy and exclusive music content.

Die Spitz (Anatheme)

Die Spitz Announce Debut Album ‘Something To Consume’, Drop Ferocious New Single ‘Throw Yourself To The Sword’

Austin punk outfit Die Spitz have announced their debut album Something To Consume, arriving on 12th September via...
Dean Lewis (Sean Loaney)

Dean Lewis Releases Deluxe Edition Of ‘The Epilogue’ with Powerful New Single ‘Hurt So Bad’

Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis has unveiled the deluxe edition of his acclaimed third studio album The Epilogue, alongside the release of an emotionally raw new single, Hurt So Bad.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing