“Boyzone was Take That’s ugly sister”.
Ronan Keating’s words, not mine. Harsh perhaps, but you can see what he was getting at. Mind you, with 25million records sold as part of one of the biggest boy bands ever, plus a further 20million sales as a solo artist, the Dublin-born singer hasn’t done too badly, has he?
Ronan Keating arrived at the AECC last night on the UK leg of his current world tour.
He is on the road promoting his Time Of My Life release, a project that he describes as a “coming of age album”, written in his kitchen and released earlier this year.
As opening acts go, a finalist from Greece’s version of X Factor may not sound too appealing.
But Cypriot singer-songwriter Nikolas Metaxas was well received, performing a pleasant, if rather polite, solo set that brought to mind a mix of John Mayer and Elvis Costello.
By 8.45pm the fair-sized audience of mainly middle-aged women had stocked up on merchandise, were in their seats, and we were off. It was a smart stage set, with classy backdrops and sharp lighting as Ronan arrived on stage.
“I’ve always been quite an insecure person,” he has said in the past, but he is clearly comfortable in his own skin these days. Talking of complexions, at 39 dressed in shirt, skinny jeans and boots, he looks years younger.
Previously supported by lush harmonies in Boyzone, Keating’s voice has grown stronger over the years and elevated the material well on stage.
The set lent heavily on the new album ranging from acoustic moments, as on lead single Let Me Love You, through to the anthemic Think I Don’t Remember.
With a new venue under construction, the current AECC is showing its age, particularly acoustically. Despite this, Keating’s superb seven-piece band brought the material to life, the excellent Keith Duffy (The Corrs) bass lines adding punch to the songs.
Artists go out on tour to promote their latest release, but it’s hits that audiences want to hear.
It can be a difficult line to tread, but Keating got it just about right.
As well as the new songs, When You Say Nothing At All, the perfect pop of Life Is A Rollercoaster, Cat Steven’s gorgeous Father and Son (an early hit for Boyzone), and the Garth Brooks penned If Tomorrow Never Comes all got an airing.
There was also a lively take on fellow Irishman, Van Morrison’s well-worn Brown Eyed Girl that the audience loved.
Now free from the pop conveyor belt, this was a mature performance from an artist clearly enjoying life. A classy show.