With hope and resilience as their message, The Script delivered a nearly two-hour long performance of their greatest hits, just 18 months after the death of band member Mark Sheehan.
As an opening act, Scottish-born Tom Walker set the tone for the evening with an energetic performance including hits “Just You and I” and “Leave a Light On” which prepared fans for a night of unforgettable music.
Just 30 minutes later, as the lights dimmed and the crowd buzzed with excitement, there was no doubt as to who was headlining Glasgow’s OVO Hydro.
Signalling the show’s hopeful direction straight away, the night began with a calming melody, not unlike something you might hear in the Irish countryside. Ben Sargeant and Ben Weaver, the two-touring band-turned-frontmen then transformed the night into a rocky instrumental bonanza, which kept the crowd cheering for more.
As the rhythm built, drummer Glen Power took his place on the B stage, his steady beats laying the groundwork for the dramatic entrance of frontman Danny O’Donoghue. While O’Donoghue is the clear fan favourite, Glen Power certainly keeps the crowd enraptured with his drumming skill.
As anticipation built, the opening notes of the 2010 hit, “You Won’t Feel a Thing”, rang out, cueing O’Donoghue’s dramatic entrance. Dressed in a red sequinned shirt and black trench coat, the Irishman walked through the crowd under glowing blue lights thrilling fans along the path. O’Donoghue’s charismatic entrance showed how much he enjoys interacting with fans, and how much they adore him in return.
With the show underway, it was the band’s 2008 hit “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” which really energised the crowd, with every person in the 14,500-seat arena belting out the words to the infamous ballad.
The band’s seamless movements between the main and B stages kept the audience engaged, ensuring every fan felt part of the experience.
The Script’s first night headlining Scotland’s largest city was always set to be a poignant night as the band took to the Hydro’s iconic stage for the first time without founding member Mark Sheehan who died in April 2023.
Dedicating a song to Sheehan, Danny thanked the crowd for their support since his death. Addressing the emotional crowd he said:
“I want to thank you all for all your support over the past year and a half, all of your messages, your prayers since we lost our bandmate Mark Sheehan,” he said, met with cheers and applause.
The emotional highlight came during their performance of “If You Could See Me Now”, a song written about the deaths of O’Donoghue and Shehan’s parents. This time Danny altered the lyrics to dedicate the song to Mark, singing, “Mark Sheehan, we’re just missing you now.” The heartfelt moment left the audience visibly moved in a fitting tribute to their late bandmate.
As the show’s end loomed near, it was time for another crowd favourite, the 2010 hit “For The First Time”. By the end of the show, the band had,as O’Donoghue charmingly described, almost “blown the roof off the place”.
At the end of the song, O’Donoghue led the crowd in an a capella rendition of the song’s bridge, the band leaving the stage to the sound of the crowd singing “Oh these times are hard, yeah they’re making us crazy don’t give up on me baby”.
The band then reemerged for a three-song encore, led by their newest single “Home Is Where the Hurt Is”, culminating with the band’s biggest hit, the 2012 song “Hall of Fame”, belted out by O’Donoghue in a room illuminated by smartphone torches.
As the night drew to a close, the lasting sound of applause and joy echoed around the sold-out arena, making it a night the crowd are unlikely to forget.
This was my seventh time seeing The Script, though my first time in Glasgow, with the band choosing to omit the granite city from their tour dates this time around. Nothing beats a home crowd, and this show definitely wasn’t a patch on their appearances at the P&J Live or the old AECC, but it was no surprise that the band put on a show stopping performance.
At times O’Donoghue’s voice seemed tired, with some of the songs played in a different key to aid the live performance. While this didn’t detract from the show, it is a reminder of the band’s changing dynamics. Mark Sheehan’s presence was sorely missed; however the band’s energy, particularly O’Donoghue’s, kept audience momentum high in yet another unmissable gig, making resilience in the face of hardship a key theme of the night.
Next time they’re in town, make sure you don’t miss The Script – even if you have to travel to Glasgow. I promise it’s worth it.
