Reading from The Script

 If you thought the best way for a band to get up closer and personal with fans was via social media, you obviously have never seen The Script.

The Irish trio were in town last Friday for their debut Bangkok concert at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani, and delighted fans not just with lots of great tunes and energetic and decent showmanship, but by conjuring up a surprisingly warm and friendly vibe that made the auditorium feel more like a pal’s living room.

A mini medley of “Paint the Town Green”, “Hail, Rain or Sunshine” and “Breakeven” sounded from the stage precisely at 9 and moments later a row of green neon flags waved their way from the far end of the hall as the band members slowly marched to centre stage, taking time out to greet fans along the way. 

Deafening cheers finally subsided as singer Danny O’Donoghue, drummer Glen Power and guitarist Mark Sheehan took their positions and delivered “Before the Worst”, a mid-tempo hit with hip-hop flair from their 2008 self-titled debut.

“It’s been a long time coming, Bangkok.” O’Donoghue told the crowd. “Thanks to you and your messages on Twitter and social media, we are finally here!”

The show continued with a good mix of old and new songs from across the band’s four studio albums including “We Cry”, “If You Could See Me Now” and “Man On a Wire” with Sheehan confessing his fear of heights while shooting the music video.

O’Donoghue asked one of the girls in the front to dial her ex-boyfriend then pranked him by singing “Nothing” with the phone in one ear while he listened to the other end. After “Good Ol’ Days” from their third album “#3”, the band disappeared briefly from stage, leaving the crowd wondering what would happen next.

A few minutes later, they were back, but this time on “stage B”, a small stage at the far end of the concert floor right in the middle of the audience, to deliver more tunes but this time in acoustic version. From this little island the band sang “Never Seen Anything "Quite Like You”, their breakthrough hit “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and “You Won’t Feel a Thing” from the second CD, “Faith and Science”.

The band then transferred back to the main stage and belted out “Six Degrees of Separation” and “It’s Not Right For You” from their latest album, “No Sound Without Silence”. They said good night and left the stage, leaving the fans humming on and calling their names for more music.

They returned for an encore featuring “Energy Never Dies”, “For the First Time”, “No Good in Goodbye” and left the stage with “Hall of Fame”, promising they would be back again very soon.

Thanks to a harmonious cocktail of pop, rock, hip-hop and rhythm and blues, The Script delivered each number with energetic and engaging flair without veering too much towards rock or dance. Though most of the repertoire was mid to down-tempo numbers, the show was kept interesting and hyped up by O’Donoghue who did a very good job of entertaining the crowd.

O’Donoghue’s vocals were impeccable live, rising above the venue’s mediocre sound system and his interaction with the other two members was refreshing, especially considering they have been together for almost 15 years.

Nothing is better than seeing musicians enjoying each other’s company and having a blast belting out songs that they love. 

The fact that that O’Donoghue and Sheehan popped up here and there to get close to the fans throughout the concert could have distracting and instead added a sense of intimacy and involvement that all too many bands overlook. With The Script, it was obvious they were up on stage because of the fans and the show on Friday proved that they were eager to do anything to please their supporters.