Ronan Keating's first tour without his usual backing group, sorry Boyzone, is a celebration of his coming of age. Yes, at a tender 23 our 'Ro' is now heading into solo artist territory, currently populated by a variety of well and truly has beens. It's his for the taking and you sense he knows it.
Tonight Matthew, Ronan is a denim-clad Elvis. Making his boxer-style entrance through the now ecstatic crowd, Ronan has set the place alight without uttering a word. The music kicks in and the first of many viscious pelvic thrusts are unleashed. All hell breaks loose and seats are abandoned en masse.
Ronan appears relaxed and happy to carry the full weight of expectation of those assembled. He seems to relish the music and the freedom to just be himself onstage. Choreographers are put on the back burner as he opts for an unorthodox body jerking dancing technique and impromptu arse wiggling. The ladeez love it. Or rather, the middle-aged mums love it. Do we have the new Tom Jones in our midst? Instead of teddy bears hurled forward it's roses decorating the stage and hysterical women jumping up and down.
Unlike arena shows, it's not tacky or tinny. Ronan's voice amply fills the hall over music that predictably varies between, you guessed it, epic ballads and upbeat rocky numbers. The new single 'The Way You Make Me Feel' shines through early on.
Then it's part two - the homage to the 'Zone. After slipping into a leather number Ronan opens a silver box onstage reminiscent of a prop on the last Boyzone tour. Out of it he plucks a cowboy hat with a cheeky grin and a p**staking dance routine, he heads straight into a triple whammy of hits - 'Picture Of You', 'Baby Can I Hold You Tonight' and 'Father And Son', the final one of which sees Ronan drowned out in an 'Angels' style singalong.
How do you follow that? Easy, with the Notting Hill smash 'When You Say Nothing At All' and the chart-topping 'Rollercoaster'.
Ronan slips in a new track 'Loving Everyday' and two covers for good measure - a possibly ill-advised version of Thin Lizzy's 'Whiskey In The Jar' and the rousing forthcoming b-side, a version of The Pogues' 'Fairy Tale Of New York' for which he is joined onstage by Clannad's Maire Brennan. Just time for another slowie ('Long Goodbye') and a full band bow before our hero reluctantly exits the building.
Tonight there seems little point in reconvening Boyzone. As much as it might pain him he just doesn't need the others anymore. Ronan's rollercoaster just keeps going up and up.
