FAN TOUR REPORTAGE

8th Row, Manchester, 3rd May

Before I launch into a blow by blow account of concert – just wanted to say – me – 35yr old housewife and mother of three with a closeted Westlife fetish and no previous history of concerts….any concerts….

I managed to look like a total yokel as I was led wild-eyed towards the venue (after the apoplexy over ticket prices – the parking charges came as a blow to my natural tightwad tendencies!) My travel companion and seasoned concert goer, Debs leapfrogged the throngs to lead me around to correct doorway ( that’s stepping aside the camera sage and heart attack over  stashing digital camera in case venue removed pride and joy ! I hadn’t sat on Ticketmaster for god damn hours to gain 8th row tickets for some grease monkey to whip it from me!

She shoves ‘golden tickets’ under door fella’s nose and barges in………what was I expecting? Well – OK I didn’t expect the local village hall – BUT why didn’t anyone warn me of the seating capacity????? I nearly had a coronary and at my age, that isn’t so unexpected. I teetering on the top of a platform about 100 feet in the air , almost pitch black except for sparkling lights/ noise / waving light sticks – 1600 people in one place! Wow the shock….Well Debs has bounded off down what looks like the north face of Mount Everest and I am still standing like a fire hazard at the top – in fact I WAS a fire hazard. Carefully picking my way down I have to admit to gloriously passing all those seated in the gods, feeling positively regal we swanked our way to front block. Ah what joy. ….

Another daft observation, the venue may not be the village hall, but the seating most certainly was! I won’t gripe because no one really sat in them. Only one small complaint though, they were not of generous proportions, rather unlike the ‘Mr Golightly ‘ that my poor friend had next to her. He plonked himself into seat, his spilling mass catapulted Debs into me lap! Not to worry, we sort of squeezed in although I extend pity to the two petite wee lasses who had the misfortune to be seated directly behind this giant.

What can I say, due to the hardened fans skipping the first acts I had a lovely unobstructed view of all the support acts, and rather nice they were too. Sub base 5 ( sorry lads – I actually missed most of your set, but you sounded good from the bit I heard )Then Twen2y4se7en ( a sort of  ‘Busted’ cheeky chappy quartet ) Bellfire ( fine set of Irish lassies with voices to die for ) then……..a lead in to built the tension. Screens flashing totty to suit all tastes, lots of images of the lads and plenty of roof raising cheers from the packed out/ sold out arena, all to the backing sound of ‘ the boys are back in town’ Excellent tune , my heart was somersaulting through the roof by the time the black curtain dropped. The set was stupendous, nicely designed to afford high vantage points for all fans plus dual ramps sweeping either side of   central stairway. One large circular screen to back, two large square ones to each side (how nice – so those at the back who only saw the lads as ants, could at least watch the TVs!)

Turnaround started up – each and every person in that auditorium was up onto their feet. Loved the gangster lead in as the lads popped up to do a little solo – rather sexy! I do have to say. I don’t think ill ever look at the pink panther theme tune in any other light again! Its all still rather a blur (thank god for the 200+ photo’s I took) Only I could watch an entire show though the viewfinder of the camera!! Well at my age I need all the memories I can get! White suits, spats, fedora’s – there is a God, and the four of them fill suits very well! And they certainly know how to charm the audience – What a trio of flirts! Yes – I am aware that there are 4 of them, but young Mark, has a voice of an angel but a quiet style. I now take a moment to apologise for some of my previous jokes about 'Marks moves' . Mark Feehily may not be the flashest dancer in the pack, but he struts well enough to keep me happy and there’s a twinkle in his eye that shows he adores being on stage, but would rather leave the hernia inducing antics to the whippets in the pack. Just one small observation ( and naughty it is ) Mr Feehily appeared to have beautifully cut trousers….but I couldn’t help but notice, he must have been on stage sockless because…*cough* well…he seemed so very ‘pleased’ to see us all. But there and again – a lady should not have been looking! But I’m no lady!

Now that brings me onto Shane…I’m still puzzling the logistics of how he can belt up a sheer ramp at pell-mell speed, mid song without slipping a note or a foot fall or a ...left testies!. Whatever, he’s most certainly a seasoned pro (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) all of them manage to reel the audience in with cheeky winks, heartfelt waves and just the occasional blown kiss. *shiver* Very nicely organised as they scan the crowds, taking a second out the focus, point out fans, make many a heart flutter.

I extend a applause myself to Nicky Byrne, not only does he have a most attractive dancing style, energetic (almost bloody impossible to photograph) He has surpassed himself in the lead singing role. Once again I had better apologise for thinking he did ‘ nice backing ‘ and looked ‘pretty’ This man has a raw husky voice to send a shiver down the spine and a depth I wasn’t aware he possessed until now. Well done that man! (and voice coach!)

Lastly, but never least, Kian Egan - Now many peoples opinions had led me to believe this lad to be a tad serious, sometimes moody and rarely a joker. There was no sign of a curt nature but oodles of charm! He teased, joked and buttered up the audience with style and finesse with his miming, smiling, ear-splitting grins and general naughtiness’ - What a charming pixie. Added to all that was the most obvious camaraderie, these boys love each other! Best buddies/ work colleges/ friends they most certainly are and you can feel the love – It was certainly coming from me!

What was the highlights? I have to say The Medley, not only did the lads do the theme from friends, which was utterly charming but some fantastic movements came along in the shape of ‘wake me up before you go go’- that Wham hit I recall first time around. But this time, you can keep George and Andrew- these lads know how to shake their ‘thang’ and mostly in the audiences faces! No complaints here – all that proficient horse riding does seem to have kept Mr Filan in fine shape, and rather a good sense of timing I hasten to add. What a show – what a show off - what a visual splendour of delight

But my personal favourite – ‘I need you ‘ As a wild Blues brothers fan, Oh my – watching Shane unfastening himself to hare off around the stage was delicious, and bloody hell did he belt off with the rest of the last in fast pursuit. Hilarious! Breathtaking, Where do they get the energy from? And how can they sing at the same time? Who cares! They just can and do and we all want more. My only moan (I am struggling here to be objective, yet failing because this show was 1st class) is ….It was too short! I will just have to go again wont I? And again, and again. Methinks in that lies the boy’s charm. I can’t see you tiring from a fest of eye candy, natural exuberance, energy and pure Irish charm

One undercover fan now out of the closet and rather proud to shout – Hell yeah! The lads are brilliant

Xx Dame H – lined up for next year xx