Blue performing their Colours Of Blue Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Saturday 4th April 2015
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
With a career that saw boy band, Blue sell over 15 million records; disbanding to pursue solo careers, reforming to represent Great Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest, and joining the Big Reunion Boy Band Tour, this well polished band are back on tour to promote their latest album, Colours.
Supported by Norwegian mum of four, Ksyran, whose numbers included Heartless, You Don’t Love Me Anymore, and the title track from her new album, Intimacy, this audience knew that they were in for a treat.
When Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, and Antony Costa came on to the stage of a packed Royal Concert Hall they were greeted by a hail of screams befitting any band. In sharp and sophisticated attire, the quartet opened with a track from their new album, King Of The World, which showed that they can still belt out a tune. Other new tracks, Special, You’re The Only One, and a cover of Rod Stewart’s I Don’t Wanna Talk About It, were all very well received by a mostly female audience who hung on their every word.
They sang hits from their huge back catalogue as well as an array of old school covers. Between hits Welcome Talk, Too Close, If You Come Back and a medley of Get Down On It and Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, they amused the crowd with their banter and stories, even blowing kisses to the delighted crowd. With each of them taking the opportunity to sing a solo section, it was clear that they still had that magic which made them the stars they were fifteen years ago. Each was as powerful as the other and all four men clearly loved the fact that their appeal has stood the test of time.
Throughout their entire set, these crooners showed that they are now having endless fun together on stage. Their huge hits, All Rise and One Love induced mass sing-a-longs before they finished the set with their cover of the Johnny Bristol classic, Hang On In Their Baby.
An encore of their duet with Sir Elton John, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word brought to an end a concert which had been fun filled with memories. It is unfortunate that their talents have been unfairly overtaken by unsavoury headlines, but on this showing, I don’t think it will be too long before an arena tour beckons.
They were amusing, entertaining and clearly enjoying themselves. Being able to express themselves with their own individual projects, such as Simon Webbe’s first panto appearance here at our very own Theatre Royal, may mean that hopefully they will be around for a long time.