They might have been a member down but Westlife were still on top form as they played their second night as a trio in Newcastle on Saturday night.
Just 24 hours earlier, Mark Feehily took ill and was forced to pull out of the lads’ first gig at the Utilita Arena and, sadly for their packed house of fans, he hasn’t recovered in time to be on stage on Saturday. That said, while facing an incredibly tough task of filling the void of Mark’s trademark soaring vocals, his bandmates Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan did him proud and made sure that the thousands upon thousands of ticket holders still got what they came for.
Wild Dreams tour setlist opener Starlight is one of, if not, the best song Westlife have released in years, with the confetti burst before the final chorus helping it to hit even harder, on a Saturday night where everyone was most definitely up for a party.
Like some of the other boy bands of their late 90s/early 00s heyday, Westlife really don’t get the credit they deserve for just how good their back catalogue is with a back to back of When You’re Looking Like That, Fool Again, If I Let You Go, My Love and Swear It Again giving a reminder of just why they are one of the most successful pop acts in British music history.
All of the above have the ability to make you sing your heart out and go for a passionate air grab the minute the they start and, even though it would have been fantastic to hear Mark’s amazing vocals as the key changes kick in, Shane, Nicky and Kian fired on all cylinders to make sure they still packed a punch.
The ABBA medley half way through was an unexpected treat and saw one pop juggernaut pay tribute to the best of all time to rousing aplomb, before What About Now and Mandy threatened to lift the roof off the arena.
Saturday night’s show was one that will surely live long in Westlife’s memory, the wall of sound the greeted them stayed there throughout proceedings as the packed crowd became the fourth member by singing every single word back at them. Brilliant support act Lyra, who made sure the night got off to a cracking start wirh songs like the earwormingly good Falling, was on the sidelines as the lads gave a masterclass in how to hold an audience in the palm of your hand.
Flying Without Wings was an emotional sucker punch, World of Our Own mixed with interludes Beyoncé's Crazy in Love (including the famous booty shake!) was the mash up we never knew we needed and, by the time You Raise Me Up came around the bring the curtain down, the atmosphere in the arena was at fever pitch.
Mark was a big miss, but there’s no way Westlife on a Saturday night in Newcastle was going to be anything but amazing.
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