Live Review: Shayne Ward @ Manchester Apollo

Date: 18th March 2011

Reviewed by: Chris White

Bar an X-Factor performance and the low-key release of Shayne’s recent album Obsession, the comeback of someone once touted as one of the UK's premier male pop stars has been somewhat muted. Quite what’s been going on at SyCo, the Simon Cowell owned record label to which Shayne is signed, remains to be seen. Rather the forge ahead with a more traditional promotional campaign, it seems the powers that be decided a rather low-key UK tour would be the best way to re-introduce Mr Ward to the public and his remaining fans, and after Friday’s gig at Manchester Apollo, this may have in fact been a very wise decision.

Performing to a packed house, it was obvious from the start how much this gig in particular meant to the boyishly handsome singer. An early introduction to his family in the audience followed a gushing and emotional declaration of how good it was to be back on home turf, performing live. It’s widely been reported that Shayne is one of the nicest men in pop, and I’d have to say those reports are extremely accurate. Charming, humble, and seemingly very appreciative to be back on stage, you couldn’t help but share his joy and feel pleased for him.

The set-up was simple yet effective; and hour and a half of Shayne backed by a small live band (including Phoebe, a dynamite Estelle-lookalike backing vocalist), singing his biggest hits and some choice cuts from his three albums to date. Oh and a fabulous cover of Bruno Mars’ ‘Just The Way You Are’; a pretty failsafe way to get the predominantly female crowd singing along. Whilst the cheese factor certainly gets cranked up on numbers such as ‘Melt The Snow’ and ‘If That’s Ok With You’, emotional ballads such as ‘Foolish’ and ‘Breathless’ (performed to  three giggling 10 year olds plucked from the audience, no less) are by far Shayne’s forte.

Most note-worthy of everything from this gig has to be Shayne’s quite simply incredible voice. In his recent three year hiatus from the music scene, you’d be forgiven for forgetting just what he sounded like. The answer is breathtaking. Even the most hardened of music fans would fail to not be impressed by vocals like this. I can report the ‘hairs standing up moments’ count finished at... well, it was a lot. Falsetto notes most recent X-Factor wannabes could only dream of hitting were nailed with ease.

Although perhaps at odds with the concept behind this tour, it would have been nice to see a few more of the Timberlake-like moves we know he’s capable of to vary the pace at times. The set list also seemed a little lacking in the best tracks from his most recent album, which unfortunately could desperately do with a kick back into the charts. But as more of a showcase for why Shayne became a pop star in the first place, I’d say all bases were covered. Also worthy of mentioning were the support act, fresh new 2011 girl band Parade. Tight dance routines and in actual fact, bloody good voices left me thinking we’d be seeing a lot more of these girls this year.

A solid, impressive, and at times heart-warming performance, this was a hugely enjoyable gig and hopefully the start of a new chapter for Shayne Ward.