First things first, I need to point out what a magnificent venue this is, all the staff are so friendly, helpful and professional, the sound quality is outstanding and the whole building is maintained to the highest of standard, can’t fault a thing. Now, the music…..
DARREN HAYES is midway through his UK 2023 tour (his first for over a decade) and he definitely brought the party to Manchester at this sold out gig. This might be an all seated venue but the vast majority of his adoring fans were on their feet and dancing from the very first song, CHAINED TO YOU which was performed entirely behind a curtain as a silhouette. Darren eventually emerged to a rapturous applause and wolf whistles, looking fabulous in his lace blouse with bow, long boots and tailcoat, he had quite a few jacket changes throughout the night.
The set itself comprised of a mix of SAVAGE GARDEN tracks, old and new solo songs and snippets of 80’s music covers intertwined with his own work. INSATIABLE was mashed up with FORGET ME NOTS to discofy it up, Darren and the band used every inch of the stage, stairs and curtains as they danced the night away and it was obvious they were having a blast.
He shared stories during the show, some funny, some heartbreaking and also added a hint of visual theatre which was slightly on the cheesy side but I guess it was apt. He introduced songs from his new album as the ‘party section’ which was packed full of visuals and dancing and culminated in him being draped in vast amounts of the curtains, imagine ordering Madonnas stage production but from Wish, it all added to the fun of his show though.
It was my first time at one of his gigs and it was much more than I had anticipated, he’s certainly got a fantastic voice, some great moves and a cracking personality, good show!!!
Words by Joanne Marsland
Photos by Philip Goddard
~ SETLIST ~
1. HOMOSAPIEN (Pete Shelley cover)/ CHAINED TO YOU (SG)/ POPULAR
2. AFFIRMATION (SG)
3. THE ANIMAL SONG (SG)
4. INSATIABLE/FORGET ME NOTS (Patrice Rushen)/FASTLOVE (George Michael cover)
5. ALL YOU PRETTY THINGS/STEP INTO THE LIGHT
6. TO THE MOON AND BACK (SG) /SMALLTOWN BOY (Bronski beat cover)
7. TWO BEDS AND A COFFEE MACHINE (SG)
8. THE POWER OF GOODBYE (Snippet of the Madonna song)
9. I DON’T KNOW YOU ANYMORE (SG)
10. POISON BLOOD (new single)
11. TRUE BLUE (Madonna cover)/I KNEW I LOVED YOU (SG)
12. CASEY
13. DO YOU REMEMBER
14. HOMOSEXUAL (act 1)
15. LET’S TRY BEING IN LOVE
16. BREAK ME SHAKE ME (SG) /LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE (Indeep cover)
17. HEY MATT
18. DUBLIN SKY
19. HOLD ME (SG)
20. CRASH AND BURN (SG)
21. TRULY MADLY DEEPLY (SG)
~ ENCORE ~
22. I WANT YOU (SG)
23. THE BEST THING (SG)
*(SG) SAVAGE GARDEN SONG
