Boyzone singer at his best crooning mainstream hits

Last updated 08:34 08/02/2010

Relevant offers

Christchurch Music

Hope and Wire It's official: Hayley's gettin' hitched ChCh muso in the mix for Ridley Scott Lyttelton muso wins top folk award Festival-goers wristband 'let down' AHoriBuzz release first music video Heart Strings guitars commemorate loss Making beautiful music together? 'Ninja' gig for Occupy Christchurch Ukelele in the rubble

If talking to your plants makes them grow, what does playing Ronan Keating songs do to them?

At the picturesque venue of the Mud House Winery, Ireland's blond boy wonder of Boyzone fame is every inch the pin-up in crisp white shirt, black vest and accessories including a crucifix, and chains on his hip.

The crowd was split into three - those sandwiched into the seated area, the devoted pit of hardcore dancers (more mush pit than mosh pit) and some who were happily frolicking on the grass at the back beside picnic baskets.

Ninety per cent of the crowd were women, the rest were uneasy, although I did see Jason Gunn singing along with Keating with gusto and there were couples slow-dancing among the vines.

Some of Keating's song choices were odd. Covers of Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time and Simon and Garfunkel's Homeward Bound were tolerable, but his version of Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning made me cringe.

He was at his best crooning his mainstream hits such as The Way You Make Me Feel, If Tomorrow Never Comes, a highlight being his duet with Jo Garland on We've Got Tonight, with Keating adding the line: "look at the stars, they're not even out now".

Between songs, banter included shouts to Hayley Westenra in the crowd, Callum's mum, thanks to fans for support offered over the death of fellow Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, remembrances of his mother, and more name dropping than you'd find on television channel E. It was Elton John this, Bryan Adams that.

Mate, you say it best when you say nothing at all.

After declaring the crowd to be the best audience on his tour, Keating commented that Boyzone would likely tour New Zealand at the end of the year with their new album, Brother, dedicated to Gately.

Then a costume change to a white jacket and Keating was back for an encore.

The show ended aptly with The Long Goodbye.

REVIEW: A Day on the Green, featuring Ronan Keating, Mud House Winery and Restaurant, Waipara, Friday, February 5. Reviewed by Vicki Anderson.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Comment on this story below.

Ad Feedback

- © Fairfax NZ News

24 comments
Post a comment
Steve   #24   01:54 pm Feb 11 2010

#23 Invercargill eh. Nuff said.

Diane   #23   11:01 pm Feb 10 2010

I was really disappointed with this review as I along with several other friends had driven from Invercargill to see Ronan and we, including FOUR males,all thoroughly enjoyed Ronan's amazing performance.The weather, the atmosphere and the setting all added to the overall experience and after the event was over we all waited expectantly for the "Press Review". After an informative and generally complimentary article on Ronan which appeared in Friday's Press, it was a shock to realise that the same person could 'turn-on' him! It actually just showed up the ignorance of the reviewer in that she simply just doesn't 'get' Ronan, who in Britain and Ireland is famous for his humility and has been described on many occasions as 'the nicest guy in the pop industry'.Thank goodness for internet-access and I didn't have to waste money buying the paper. Be aware fans feel it's a 'big put-down' to read a review like this!

James   #22   02:17 pm Feb 09 2010

#14 - Vicki is the queen and you should bow down to her throne u bad music likin' fool.

Chris   #21   02:07 pm Feb 09 2010

Drama queens. Typical Keating fans. Ok, lets look at the facts people. She said the venue was ''picturesque'' this means nice and that she liked it. She said the crowd was ''happily frolicking'', this means the crowd were enjoying themselves. I drove my girlfriend and some of her mates to the gig. I didn't hate the gig, didn't rate it either. I didn't like the Midnight Oil cover just because he said it was a ''political'' song. Oh please. Maybe this is what Vicky was cringing at? He did so name drop. I even said to my girlfriend while he was doing it , does he always name drop this much? This is tragic, why don't you all stop whinging and go and listen to some real music.

Chris   #20   12:15 pm Feb 09 2010

I have worked on all the shows at The Mudhouse and this review is wrong on three counts. Ronan did not name drop,there were heaps of guys there and the Midnight Oil cover was great. Like Vikki I was being paid to be there and I wouldn't say Ronan is my cup of tea but unlike Vikki I can appreciate class when I see it.The Peter Urlich thing was a bit pedestrian to me but no one seemed to mind and the crowd were certainly the most boisterous I have ever seen at The Mudhouse.What I notice about these shows is that people come to enjoy themselves, the atmosphere is super friendly with a wide age range, all in a lovely setting.Great show.

Dave   #19   12:00 pm Feb 09 2010

You people need to get lives. Girls, any guy who told you he liked the Ronan Keating concert is just trying to get laid. This review is pretty well balanced with both praise and criticsm, isnt that what a critic does. If only fans reviewed shows there would never be any honest reviews. Fool.

Philippa   #18   08:19 am Feb 09 2010

What a pathetic reporter. Why go to a concert if you aren't a fan. I totally agree with Richelle #9. And name dropping? What a load of bollocks. Don't care what he says as long as I can listen to that accent. Your whole life will be negative like that if you keep that frame of mine reporter. You can't change the wind, but you can change your sails.

Leonie   #17   10:45 pm Feb 08 2010

I would love to see the idiot who wrote this 'article' do what he does aswell but that's why it's a cruddy reporter and not a good one at that and not a millionaire world performing artist like Ronan Keating.

Brett Dale   #16   05:59 pm Feb 08 2010

Does the reviewer know, that "If Tomorrow Never Comes" is not a Ronan Keating song, its a cover that he put on one of his albums.

The orginal wrtier and singer is Garth Brooks.

Steve   #15   05:13 pm Feb 08 2010

"Ninety per cent of the crowd were women", Rubbish. Did your reporter pass maths? "the rest were uneasy" More Rubbish. There were plenty of men there and they enjoyed it. Was a great concert.


Show 1-14 of 24 comments

Post comment


Required

Required. Will not be published.
Registration is not required to post a comment but if you , you will not have to enter your details each time you comment. Registered members also have access to extra features. Create an account now.


Maximum of 1750 characters (about 300 words)

I have read and accepted the terms and conditions
These comments are moderated. Your comment, if approved, may not appear immediately. Please direct any queries about comment moderation to the Opinion Editor at blogs@stuff.co.nz
Special offers

Featured Promotions

Sponsored Content

Pop Tart waxes lyrical on sex and clubs and rock 'n' roll

Pop Tart

Pop Tart waxes lyrical on sex and clubs and rock 'n' roll