The Script

There is a theory that if you want to pull you go out with an ugly mate who makes you look attractive by comparison. Couldn't help feeling that the Script used this trick with their support, the Original Rudeboys. Actually it slightly pains me to say that as they did seem a genuinely nice group of lads, if very Irish (or rather "Oirish"). They seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage. Unfortunately they enjoyed themselves rather more than we enjoyed them. A lot more. The 19,000 fans (sorry "Nointeen tousand" - they did have the most oirish accents I have ever heard) treated them very well and they obviously loved being at the O2 in such a big gig, but their rapper couldn't rap, their singer couldn't sing and none of their material had anything much to it. Only their cheery demeanour kept them (and us) going.

The Script however are at the other end of the spectrum. Very slick and professional, Danny O'Donoghue has a very fine voice and with Mark Sheehan on guitar form a formidable presence on stage. With a third album ("3" - not very imaginative title lads) they now have a decent body of work to choose from, and they went down a storm. Danny really worked the room (although I would question the wisdom of getting individual members of the audience to sing (or howl) the refrain on "We Cry" as he seemed to select girls who all had the voice of an Alsatian being strangled). The end of "The Man who can't be Moved" almost stopped the gig, as the applause went on so long and Danny appeared to be welling up at the emotion of it. He felt the love. And being loved by a big crowd must make you feel something. (Of course being a lawyer, I wouldn't know what.)

Danny O'Donoghue

Mark Sheehan

I had booked this with three of our trainees, one of whom had never been to a gig before. James had asked me what I thought would be the right sort of gig to take his girlfriend to, and this was my recommendation. And I still feel satisfied with the choice. A great show, a sedate crowd, a band that can really play and while not exactly the most credible of groups, not a bad one either. A very decent show all round, and all the nicer for having had dinner at the O2 beforehand. In a very cold O2 I should add. Weather was literally freezing. But at least inside we had our love for the band to keep us warm, along with 19,000 other bodies.