Christina's verdict: Four stars
You always know what to expect from The Script: They make melodic, piano-laden songs underpinned with pounding, anthemic drums, preaching heartfelt - if slightly repetitive - messages of persevering through hard times, seizing the day and getting dumped by your ex-girlfriend. This tried-and-tested formula combined with O'Donoghue's soaring, powerful voice has earned the multi-platinum band spectacular international success - selling 20 million records across the globe and sold-out stadium tours.
With their streamlined, paint-by-numbers instrumental arrangements and easy-to-digest cookie-cutter lyrics ('if hate is poison then love is the cure' springs to mind), The Script's music is purpose-built for arena concerts. They even recorded 'No Sound Without Silence' on their tour bus straight after shows - capturing the nervous energy and an expansionist production quality to their music which sounds too slick, too 'big' to be appreciated in stereo: but their live performance and the Glasgow crowd's raucous enthusiasm helped do it justice.
They kicked off with an homage to their Irish roots, Paint the Town Green, entering in a line of people holding illuminated-green flag poles to rapturous applause. They mellowed out with 'If You Can See Me Now', a heartfelt ballad which O'Donoghue penned in memory of his late dad. That being said, the Americanised use of "Mom" emblazoned in bright white letters across the lyric backdrop - from an Irish act, no less - will haunt my dreams tonight. I still see it when I close my eyes.
'Superheroes', their latest single, went down really well with the crowd, with an up-lifting, percussive-heavy chorus - and the trio's vocal harmonies over sweeping guitar crescendos lifted each song into its own.
Near the end of their set, they changed the dynamic by switching stages to the enclosed platform at the back of the hall. Projected graphics bounced off the grating as O'Donoghue showcased his piano skills through 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved'. What should have been the pinnacle of their set was unfortunately let down because the cymbals weren't mic'd up properly - leaving the hit song without a much-needed backbone. We could hear Power's tinny, enthusiastic crashing from our area, but it was frustrating to watch while no-one picked up on it.
The band ran off-stage as we were plunged into darkness and confusion. The crowd suddenly started cheering, and I realised Danny O'Donoghue appeared out of nowhere beside my aisle seat, shoving a GoPro camera in my face. He ushered past me through the row of screaming, grown men and women kissing his cheek and trying to get selfies with him. The only thought I could muster while I processed what happened was: "I wish I had put on lipgloss."
Back on-stage in one piece, the singer launched into 'No Good In Goodbye', filled with driving power chords and an ambient vocal interplay with help from guitarist Sheehan. They finished up with crowd favourite 'Hall of Fame' - glitter flying through the air as O'Donoghue ran about the stage and slid on his knees while draped in a saltire flag, pointing and blowing kisses at individual fans in the ecstatic crowd.
While the show was a bit hammed-up at parts (spare us the clichéd 'kilts and haggis' chat in 2015, please..), O'Donoghue's famous Irish charm, showmanship and genuine engagement with his fans during the gig managed to set The Script apart from most bands of their ilk - no mean feat in a packed-out arena. Their latest album might not pack a real punch, but their electric performance was a testament to the band's talent.
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