Live Review: The Script – 23rd November 2024 – O2 Arena, London, UK
5 min read
The Script (Photo by- Jordan Rossi)
Dublin four-piece The Script have been picking up the pieces of a broken band over the last 18 months following the heartbreaking loss of founding bandmate and guitarist, Mark Sheehan who lost his battle with cancer in 2023. Continuing the legacy of the band, this year saw the introduction of new bandmates Benjamin Sargeant on bass and Ben Weaver filling in the enormous shoes Sheehan left on lead guitar.
We last caught The Script as they performed mere months after the loss of Sheehan at BST Hyde Park last year, supporting pop icon Robbie Williams – at a time when the news of Sheehan was still very raw. The band really held it together although you could see how emotional remaining members – singer Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power – were during that show and we were keen to see how the outfit are doing a year on as they brought their new album, Satellites along with a suitcase or career gems to London’s O2 Arena.
It’s been a double whammy of Dublin acts for us within a week at the O2, having just seen fellow Irish outfit The Corrs deliver a phenomenal performance on Wednesday, so it’s been quite the Irish treat and approaching the venue you could already get a strong sense of excitement from fans who were just as eager as we were to see what this latest tour from the lads.
The band came on stage at just shy of 9pm to a roaring response from fans – towering front man Danny O’Donoghue, dressed in a long black coat and shiny red shirt, making his way to the B-stage that was set up in the depths of the standing, frenzied crowd, starting his walk through the fans just mere feet from where we positioned ourselves at the rear of the venue . From here they drove straight into a weighty 19 song set starting with You Won’t Feel A Thing from sophomore album Science & Faith before bringing out the big guns with signature hit Superheroes and fan favourite Rain tying up the opening segment of the already buzzing performance; a feeling O’Donoghue who bounced around the stage as dynamically and as full of energy as ever.
Having seen The Script on their last few tours, we’ve come to expect a very visual performance and Saturday nights show didn’t hold back on the expenses to cover the enormous, vibrantly lit screen that spanned the width of the O2’s massive stage and that served as the night’s flashy backdrop for the band’s incredible catalogue. Black and white stripes took over the band’s performance of Satellites number Both Ways while a vibrant array of colours were cast on screen as we travelled through a series of lakes, fjords and mountain ranges during a stellar rendition of The Last Time from 2019’s Sunsets & Full Moons. It was the collectives performance of The Man Who Can’t Be Moved however that shone brightest in the visual category; an apartment block cast on screen with O’Donoghue seeming to sit on the corner of a street singing the staple Script number and helping the lyrics of the song really come to life.
Much like previous performances, O’Donoghue made every effort to give his fans the up close and personal experience – playfully making his way into the front row of the of the audience to give individuals a moment to shine as he handed the mic to them to sing a line or two while making his way back to the stage during the end of Rain.
A touching tribute to their former guitarist on If You Could See Me Now had several fans in the area of where we were standing wiping teams are from their eyes as the bands front man told the crowd that Sheehan was looking down with a whisky in hand and watching the show.
The Script continued to share their performance time between the main stage and small purpose built B-stage stage positioned in the centre of the venue to allow all fans to get a more intimate experience from the Dubliners. This also allowed those right at the band a chance to feel more involved in the show and the stage design of 3 giant overhead rings that move and changed colour added yet another visual element to their performance.
Paint the Town Green lit the venue up in green and injected the bands homeland Irish roots into the set more than any other during the evening, while For The First Time had the venue lit up with the lights of audience members phones and showed just how adored this band really are as the crowd belted back the song to their idols. The love for The Script during ballads like this and fellow hit single, Breakeven was palatable, while the energy from the charismatic frontman during more upbeat numbers like closing hit, Hall of Fame was matched by the audience as the venue transformed into a 19,000 strong disco, led by a band that has gone from strength to strength over the course of a phenomenal near-20 year long career, and come out of one of the darkest moments with optimism and a strengthened solidarity.
Looking back on past performances by the band that we have attended, when it comes to the checklist of how to put on a memorable show – from the vocals through to the visuals, audience engagement and set list – The Script always know and always conquer their assignment and we are happy to say that this latest tour was no exception. A truly remarkable show by one of the best live acts around!
Setlist:
You Won’t Feel a Thing
Superheroes
Rain
Both Ways
Six Degrees of Separation
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
The Last Time
Millionaires
If You Could See Me Now
Inside Out
Never Seen Anything “Quite Like You”
Before the Worst
Nothing
No Good in Goodbye
Paint the Town Green
For the First Time
Encore:
Home Is Where the Hurt Is
Breakeven
Hall of Fame
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