Tag: The Olympia

Brian May and Kerry Ellis at The Olympia – Review

This was originally published on Goldenplec.com, Brian May and Kerry Ellis at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland on June 30th 2013.

For the past while Brian May has been in the news, not only for his music but also for his love of nature – in particular badgers – speaking out about cullings in the UK. Along with singer Kerry Ellis, May went to South Africa to the Born Free Foundation’s rescue centre for lions. Their love of wildlife preservation led them to record an album, ‘Born Free’, and embark on an intimate tour in late 2012. ‘Acoustic and by Candelight’ is the second part of that tour, with all proceeds going to the Born Free Foundation.

With that in mind, there’s no better way to raise awareness than to show the waiting audience nature videos before the duo take to the stage. These videos do include some badgers looking rather cute, but also include Brian May’s version of the viral Badger Badger Badger video, complete with a Flash Gordon style vocals and guitar.

The duo take to the stage to raptourous applause and start the night with a version of I Who Have Nothing, with May on acoustic guitar and Ellis showing off her elegant vocals. Throughout the night, there are heckles from the floor; the usual “I love you“, to which Brian May replies, “I love you too” before mentioning that Kerry also loved the heckler.

Despite being one of the most instantly recognisable faces in rock, May seems really down to earth and extremely passionate about raising awareness for the Born Free Foundation. He explains that the songs performed on the tour somehow relate to animals, including us human ones. The mood is upbeat and light-hearted, perfect for a Sunday night chill out. After Ms Ellis reminds us that she’s on stage with Dr May, a keyboard player, Craig Adams, is introduced. May tells the audience his regular player has run off to Glastonbury to play with Bruce Forsyth for the weekend, which gets a giggle.

May and Ellis seem very at ease with each other onstage, and seeing the ease and ability with which May plays guitar is really something that inspires awe. He changes guitar from six string to twelve string and back for different songs, giving each a unique texture.

With many years experience in the West End, Kerry Ellis hits the right notes all night, and the addition of the keyboard player rounds out the stripped back sound beautifully. During their rendition of Kansas’ Dust in the Wind, the guitar has a slight reverb, while the keys subtly pad out the sound.

Of course, the audience want to hear Queen songs. May takes the first verse, and Ellis follows on with the rest of Somebody to Love. While May’s guitar playing is in a different league to his singing, it doesn’t diminish the passion for the song from the audience. It gives them the opportunity to sing their hearts out, clap to the beat when the song breaks down, sing as the song’s gospel style refrain builds up and hit the falling notes perfectly as the song ends – magic.

This tour has given fans of the pair an opportunity to hear some fantastic renditions of songs made famous by other artists. The Beatles’ Tell Me What You See has the two sharing vocals, and even stripped down possesses a hippy sixties vibe. The guitar and keys replace the string section on Barbara Streisand’s The Way We Were, updating the song, and although on a stage in a packed venue, it remains intimate.

The duo are on stage for almost two hours and take turns with a solo place in the spotlight. This gives Dr May an excuse to bring out a good old electric guitar and of course he has to treat us to an improvised guitar solo, which includes Molly Malone – the audience love it and so does he. Tonight is a night where we get to know a more human side of Dr May. Yes, he bumps into a stool onstage, and yes, he introduces the wrong song on one occasion, but we also hear some of his stories including how Rory Gallagher taught him about guitar amps in the Marquee in London. The biggest audience reaction of the night comes for a dazzling rendition of Tie Your Mother Down. With electric guitar and keys, all we’re missing is some drums for a full on rock show.

The Olympia audience don’t need much encouragement to stomp their feet and clap their hands for We Will Rock You and it’s infamous guitar solo. While this tour was branded ‘Acoustic and by Candelight’, the electric is still out for recent single, The Kissing Me Song.

After a short break, Kerry Ellis returns for an encore, her pure vocals highlighting No One but You (Only The Good Die Young) and how operatic Queen’s songs are. Brian May returns to the stage with his electric guitar and lifts the song into a rock realm. The night ends with Crazy Little Thing Called Love, with its infamous acoustic guitar opening sounds huge backed by Craig Adams’ rockabilly keys. It’s a perfect ending to a great night.

This is a fantastic opportunity for fans of guitar hero, Brian May, to see him work his magic, up close and in an intimate setting. Kerry Ellis’ vocals are flawless, and together the two do have a chemistry that works. Their choice of songs for the evening can’t be faulted, starting off slowly and building the evening up. At the end though, there’s just a nagging feeling that Dr May would much prefer to leave down his acoustic, pick up the electric and rock it out, not just for old times’ sake.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s the Badger song!

July 8, 2013
Mark Owen At The Olympia – Review

Originally posted on Goldenplec.com – Mark Owen at The Olympia June 19th 2013

Exactly two years to the day, Take That played the second of two sold out shows in Croke Park. Alongside the other four original members, Mark Owen played to over 160,000 Irish fans. This time round, Owen is back on Irish soil on a solo tour in support of his recently released album, ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’.

Before Owen takes to the Olympia stage, local band Acrobat get the chance to open the show. When a name like Owen’s is involved, there will always been a loyal fanbase awaiting his arrival. This however, didn’t deter Acrobat from giving their all. Officially a three piece, the band enlist a synth player for live shows and it pays off. They have a tight indie rock vibe and their sound is balanced beautifully. Singer and guitarist, Mark Thomas, uses the Olympia stage well interacting with the audience and getting the seated audience clapping along and involved in the set, which included their debut single Safe Inside, the soaring Silent Sound. All come across as competent musicians and while it was their first time on the Olympia stage, they seem like they are ready for bigger. Very enjoyable set.

The wait between acts is the worst part about gigs. The music on the P.A. tonight fills the gap well with indie tracks scattered between songs from movie soundtracks as the stage is readied with a mat that looks like a British stamp. The sound changes slightly and Gerard McCann’s Cry Little Sister from The Lost Boys soundtrack fills the venue. The volume rises and as the track nears the end vertical strips of LED lights pulse on stage in time with the beat. Dramatic. Mr. Owen immediately gets himself some cool points. As he and his band come to the stage, the predominately female audience let their voices be heard.

Dressed in a white jacket and black trousers, Owen looks at home on his own in the centre of the stage. The set opens with Giveaway and Raven from his current album. Giveaway is an unusual choice of opener, starting off quiet before the tempo raises. Owen is joined onstage by a four piece band, drums, guitar, bass and keys. Actually, in total there are seven keyboards/synths on stage, one of which boasts a QR code for fans to scan. By the end of Raven, Owen has played keys and guitar, showing himself to be way more than the all singing all dancing Take Thater.

The audience are on their feet and although this maybe a chance to convert some TT fans to his solo stuff, there are many already mouthing the words. Owen addresses the audience, thanking them for their dedication over the past twenty years. He jokes about how he doesn’t have a big circus or standing man, references to previous TT tours. As he pours a drink from a teapot, he does show the audience his waving cat though, which gets a giggle.

The set continues with Stars, the current single. Sound in the venue is pristine, Owen’s soundscape is huge, from beautiful bass synth sounds to the punchy sound from what seems like a jazz kick drum. It is a TT song that sends the audience into overdrive though. The Flood is given an uptempo intro and the other members aren’t missed as every audience member helps out with the chorus.

Scattered among tracks from his current album, Owen plays 1997’s Clementine, from his debut, ‘Green Man’, and the brilliantly clever Four Minute Warning, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year. Believe in The Boogie from Owen’s third album ‘How The Mighty Fall’ keeps everyone dancing. Yes, he has released four solo albums.

Two TT tracks finish up the main set as the show really turns into a celebration of Owen’s career. Everyone, in the seated venue, is on their feet, singing with all their might. As Hold Up The Light builds, the crowd get more hyped. Owen does the clever thing and uses tracks that he has the lead vocal, ending the main set with the singalong a crowd pleaser Shine. These are the songs people want to hear and Owen doesn’t disappoint.

Mark Owen and his band leave the stage to deafening applause. The crowd aren’t going anywhere, waiting for a return. Mark comes back to the stage and Rule The World gets a piano rendition, making the song his own. He finishes the night with End of Everything, an anthemic bitter sweet song which builds to reveal a positive crescendo. A perfect choice.

The band leave the stage as Owen is still acknowledging the crowd, he hasn’t stopped smiling and looks like he has really enjoyed himself, which has rubbed off on everyone else. The crowd are clapping as Mark says his last goodbyes, then stops and starts clapping with the audience. The tempo of the handclaps change slightly to match the beat of Take That’s ‘Up All Night’. So with just handclaps and a full voiced audience for accompaniment, a last chorus is sung.

What tonight does is show how Mark Owen has grown as an artist. It also seems to indicate how much he has contributed to TT since their reformation. Previously, Gary Barlow was ‘the main man’, going on the arrangements, rhythms and songwriting on display, it seems Mark Owen deserves more credit than he has been given. A fantastic night’s entertainment.

June 28, 2013
Guerilla Days in Ireland at The Olympia – Review

Guerilla Days in Ireland: The Olympia Theatre – April 2 2013

Adapted and directed by Neil Pearson, Guerilla Days in Ireland tells the story of Tom Barry, volunteer Commander of the 3rd West Cork Flying Column who became renowned for his military knowledge and guerilla warfare tactics.

The play takes is through a time in Irish history from 1926, when Barry was in the British Army as part of the Mesopotamia Expedition to coming home to Ireland in 1919, right up to the signing of the Treaty.

The story is cleverly told through the older Tom Barry (Brendan Conroy), reflecting on his life, while a younger Tom Barry (Brian Fenton) provides us with the flashback scenes, incorporated almost like a television show. Alongside Michael Grennell and Jack Walsh, who make up the entire cast, yes, just four people, clever onstage props and dips in lighting, change characters from soldiers, Black and Tans, a barman, Eamon De Valera and Michael Collins. Very cleverly done. The direction of how the characters move on stage must also be noted, the soldiers marching when suddenly they seem to move in slow motion, not one of them out of beat.

The set itself is made up of Barry’s desk in the foreground, where he is writing his story. In the background are crosses where clothing of dead compatriots are placed. The mid section of the stage, is taken up by what resembles two stone walls.

Through Barry writing his book, he looks back at the human decisions he’s made, regrets he’s had, not just military and how some of these decisions still niggle at him.

This play has obvious appeal for an Irish audience and diaspora around the world. If the history element isn’t your thing, there’s still so much to enjoy with the actors’ versatile performances and the direction of ‘Guerilla Days’. This is a definite must see.

Guerilla Days is on your around Ireland in April and May

Stage photo from guerilladays.com

April 4, 2013
Melanie C Live at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin: Review

March 5th 2012, Olympia Theatre, Dublin.

Last time I saw Melanie C live was in 2001, she was still riding high on the back of a string of hits from ‘Northern Star’. As of tonight, Melanie C has released a grand total of five albums, had parted company with a major label and has successfully run her own label Red Girl Records. She made her way to Dublin’s Olympia for one of the last gigs of her tour in support of ‘The Sea’.

Warming up the crowd were locals, Keywest, a pop rock five piece who had cut their teeth on the busking scene. Tracks from their album ‘The Message’ were well received, including the singles “Feel So Cruel’ and ‘In The Fight For Love’. This is a grittier track and best of the night by them. They also did a cover of 2Pac’s California in a stripped down busker style set up with cajon instead of drums. Not bad, a nice warm up but they need to pack more of a punch.

On previous occasions when I had seen Mel live, I was impressed by the amount of energy that was in her shows, waiting for her to come onstage, I hoped I hadn’t made a bad decision, I hoped she would live up to the memory I had of those gigs. I really needn’t have worried. Backed by a seven piece band, including two backing singers, Mel strutted onstage to a great reception, despite the fact that the venue was fully seated. (more…)

March 9, 2012