Live Review: The Script, Conrad Sewell

No amount of rain could stop the crowds from rolling into The Bowl tonight and it’s almost already full by the time Conrad Sewell gets the show started. It’s his first show in about two and half years and he is glad to be back performing live for us, after taking some time to rediscover himself. “This industry is so much about getting people’s approval. I had to step away for a while to learn to love myself before I could love anyone else,” he explains before sharing a recently released song, Love Me Anyway. 

Sewell’s excited to share his new musical chapter with a couple of fresh songs inspired by ‘70s soul with an upbeat rock'n'roll energy. His latest single God Save The Queen was coincidentally released at midnight, just a few hours before her passing. “The timing wasn’t in my favour,” he comments, before making a heartfelt dedication to Her Majesty.

Despite being away for a while, Sewell is in his prime tonight and gives a huge vocal performance that’s energetic and captivating. A cover of his favourite song by Tina Turner (Simply The Best), showcases his brilliant range. A special preview of a new song set to be released next month, is a powerful feel-good track that features a superb saxophone solo and leaves us wanting more.

It's been four years since Dublin-three piece, The Script have toured Australia and their fans welcome them back with arms wide open. This time around it’s a celebration of their Tales From The Script album, a compilation of their biggest hits and fan favourites from their six studio albums so far. 

Confetti cannons ignite in the stalls area for a big opener as they kick off with Superheroes. “We’re so glad to be back in places we love with the people we love, singing our favourite songs,” exclaims lead singer Danny O'Donoghue. “There’s something about Australian hangovers though – they don’t last one day, they last five days!” he jokes.

Despite being a huge show, it feels very intimate and they take many opportunities to connect with their fans by telling a few personal tales along the way about the band’s journey over their twenty years or so. They take it back to their first song ever recorded (Before The Worst) and their first song ever released as a band (We Cry), in amongst stories of their early days and how they started out.

The Script have always had a strong tie with Aussie fans and there is a loving energy that can be felt across The Bowl. They share their national anthem, Paint The Town Green and the stage turns into a huge Irish snow globe with green confetti covering the front rows of the audience. O'Donoghue even gets down into the mosh pit with his drums for a few moments to spread a bit of luck.

After reliving so many memorable songs, they also share a few new tracks to make more memories with including their latest single Dare You To Doubt Me. The motivating song is about people going through hard times and coming out even stronger. It’s another uplifting anthem at their best that shares a bit of hope and encouragement – something we can all relate to after the past few years. 

The Script take a moment to reconnect with their fans and O'Donoghue honours his late parents for an emotional rendition of If You Could See Me Now, performed in the middle of the stalls. He then quickly changes the tone and calls an audience member’s ex-boyfriend to sing him Nothing down the line as we all say, “Goodbye Asshole,” in unison before he hangs up.

A three-song encore calls for us all to be present and live in the moment as we turn our phone torches on to light up the sky like a constellation of stars. The final track Hall Of Fame is dedicated to their fans who have been there since day one and they leave us with the promise that it won’t be so long before they return.