Live Review: The Script – 29th February 2020 – O2 Arena, London
4 min read
Closing the end of a successful decade for the trio, frontman Danny O’Donoghue, drummer Glen Power and guitarist and Mark Sheehan – otherwise known as The Script – presented to us their sixth studio album, Sunsets & Full Moons in November. The record has paved the way for the Irish band to embark on their first tour of the new decade with dates in national hotspots including Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and, as a treat for fans in the capital, at London’s iconic O2 Arena; a venue the boys have headlined several times during their career.
With a two hour slot within London’s most prominent concert venue, the band had ample time to turn out the long list of hits they have dished up over the course of 12 years in the bright pop spotlight.
Lighting the torch on the night and following a punchy support set from rising songbird Becky Hill, it was only appropriate that opening track, Something Unreal, from the band’s latest studio release, was unleashed on the 19,000 fans that flocked to and filled every seat and piece of floor space of the venue to see the band play their welcomed return show in London, with many fans arriving extra early to stake their claim on the prime real estate of the standing front rows.
Production costs were invested wisely and effectively with an impressive light display providing a striking atmosphere to most numbers offered up within the 20 song set. A curved screen provided the backdrop to the bands performance above a curved raised platform for Danny and co to tread as they played upon their musical note inspired stage and beneath a beaming moon themed screen; the stage design allowing the three piece to get up close and personal with fans at the right moments during the night.
During the course of the two hours the trio dominated the O2 stage, the band covered a lot of ground and all studio albums from their career were paid a visit alongside new album tracks including If You Don’t Love Yourself, Run Through Walls and infectious lead single, The Last Time being offered up amongst the hits in the nights memorable encore.
While there was a heavy Sunsets & Full Moon focus within the set, most of the bands biggest hits found residence at some point during the show.
2014’s No Sound Without Silence lead single, Superheroes, was an early guest and one of the clear highlights of the night that had the crowd singing every word back to lead singer O’Donoghue and moving along to the tracks almost stadium anthem-esque delivery, while Top 20 hit Rain, from 2017’s Freedom Child injected a simmering slow burner to the first half of the set with a fountain of sparks to compliment the closing of the hit, as well as the light light reggae flavoured No Man Is An Island.
A band who are known to get up close to their fans at shows, there were several moments where they crossed the barrier of superstardom and connect with their audience. For their performance of Science & Faith, a stripped back rendition of the sentimental The Man Who Can’t Be Moved and uptempo Millionaires, the band set up shop on a small circular stage in the heart of the standing area of the venue beneath a descending moon while things got particularly intimate with the trio positioning themselves with their instruments amongst the lower seated level to deliver the gorgeous Run Through Walls and Never Seen Anything (Quite Like You).
During the bands encore we were treated to flawless performances of debut album hit Breakeven before closing the show with one of their most successful and signature hits, For The First Time to a rapturous applause from the sold out crowd of pleased fans.
Thanks to the showmanship of all three members and the stunning voice of lead singer Danny, The Script always deliver a memorable performance for fans. I’ve seen the band perform previously at the O2 and while I enjoyed that show I can’t say I was entirely won over, however I can firmly call myself a Script fan after the epic performance they put on in one of worlds most iconic live venues last night as part of the trios latest trek around the globe.
Set list:
Something Unreal
Superheroes
Talk You Down
If You Don’t Love Yourself
Rain
Good Ol’ Days l
Nothing
If You Could See Me Now
No Man Is an Island
Run Through Walls
Never Seen Anything (Quite Like You)
Science & Faith
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Millionaires
Hot Summer Nights
Six Degrees of Separation
Encore:
Hall of Fame
The Last Time
Breakeven
For the First Time
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
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