There are few bands who boast the catalogue of hits and flawless consistency that The Script do. From the moment the curtain dropped to reveal the trio on a stage in the middle of the Metro Radio Arena, it was a master class of showmanship.
The Freedom Child Tour follows the release of the Irish band’s latest album, Freedom Child, in September last year. As this new material is dispersed throughout the set, it’s incredible to note the high pedigree that remains in the band’s work. They play tracks from all five records to date, to all of which are met with Geordies in high voice.
After opening with the infamous ‘Superheroes’, The Script leave little room for breath before launching into ‘Rock the World’. By the time the bold, Irish chords of ‘Paint the Town Green’ kick in, the band are marching through the Metro Radio Arena’s crowd towards the main stage, where they are met with an eruption of green confetti.
Later on in the evening front-man, Danny O’Donoghue, leads the band back into the crowd to set up microphones and keyboards halfway up the seating stand. The following ‘Never Seen Anything “Quite Like You”’ is dedicated to a fan adorned head-to-toe in the band’s merch, before the lead-singer bravely clambers around the fans in the arena for an enthusiastic rendition of ‘The Energy Never Dies’.
The Script are still, very much, leaders in the industry.
Other highlights include a phenomenally powerful performance of the emotional ‘If You Could See Me Now’ and the lead-single from Freedom Child, ‘Rain’, whose energetic chorus gets the crowd moving.
Image: Toby Bryant
An encore features the, now ten years old, ‘Breakeven’ and the band inevitably close on ‘Hall of Fame’ which O’Donoghue dedicates to “anyone struggling with anything”.
The Script’s show is nothing short of phenomenal. Set-up and production has been well invested in, the music is flawless and the band’s talent to hold an audience is undeniable. A decade after their debut album, it is easy to forget the band’s talent but The Script are still, very much, leaders in the industry.
