The recent gig by The Script held a significant emotional weight as it marked their first performance since the passing of their friend and co-founder, Mark Sheehan. Fans of the band were also deeply affected by Sheehan’s tragic death and sought solace in witnessing frontman O’Donoghue and drummer Power perform, just as the band members themselves found solace in playing the songs they wrote with Sheehan. Although intense emotions can sometimes hinder live performances, tonight’s show in Stradbally was an exception.
At 8:45PM, amidst thunderous applause and a shower of confetti, The Script took the stage and kicked off their performance with “Superheroes.” They proceeded to captivate the audience for the following hour. The energy from the crowd of 50,000 fans was so overwhelming that it felt as if the ground in county Laois was shaking. O’Donoghue engaged the crowd by raising his hands and rallying them to participate. The atmosphere was electrifying as the band declared, “Electric Picnic, we are The Script from Dublin.”
The band continued their set with the song “Rain,” sending the crowd into an even greater frenzy. O’Donoghue jokingly remarked, “Are we only on the second song?” before revealing that this was their final performance of the year. He playfully mentioned his plan to indulge in Guinness later and asked someone to fetch him a pint from the bar. As he launched into “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” O’Donoghue acknowledged the crowd’s applause and a team member emerged on stage with a pint of Guinness, which he promptly finished and proudly placed the empty glass on his head. The audience chorused with “Ole, Ole, Ole.”
The Script then transitioned into “Paint The Town Green” while green balloons were released, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Danny referred to the song as their national anthem. Adding an interactive element, he asked a fan for their phone and proceeded to call their boyfriend, with the entire crowd greeting Pat on the large side screens. The intensity of O’Donoghue’s emotions was palpable as he performed songs he had co-written with Sheehan, his lifelong best friend since the age of 12.
Acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the occasion, O’Donoghue expressed, “This gig is bittersweet for us. Earlier, we lost a brother and a best mate, Mark.” The band delivered a poignant rendition of “If You Could See Me Now” as O’Donoghue sang, “Mark Sheehan, I’m missing you now.” When the song concluded, he admitted, “That was harder than I thought it was going to be.” County Laois was filled with a profound sense of emotion as The Script performed “We Cry” and “Break Even,” the latter featuring the heartrending lyrics, “I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing / Just prayed to a God that I don’t believe in.” Sheehan’s passing infused these songs with additional emotion and power.
Listening to O’Donoghue sing “Break Even” evoked a deep sorrow, highlighting the ability of powerful songs to remind us of life’s brevity, cruelty, and unpredictability. A remarkable Irish band like The Script possesses the power to heal and bring joy to 70,000 people gathered in a muddy field beneath a moonlit sky in Stradbally. Electric Picnic witnessed numerous emotional performances throughout the weekend, including Niall Horan paying tribute to Sinéad O’Connor, Billie Eilish delivering an extraordinary set, and Johnny Marr performing a touching rendition of a classic song from The Smiths.
In the Electric Arena, Inhaler captivated the audience with one of the standout performances of the weekend. Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon exhibited their skills after an extensive American tour. The young Dublin band effortlessly commanded the crowd’s attention, with Hewson’s gritty, post-punk Bruce Springsteen-esque vocals.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
