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The Wanted reviewed by Emma Prendergast : Support acts reviewed by Katherine Dunn-Mines
Support Acts
It seems like it’s monsoon season in Scarborough as the acts for tonight are sound-checking, and the Open Air Theatre crew spring into action to batten down the hatches. Regardless of the downpour, the audience arrive steadily, a colourful sea of plastic ponchos.
First up is local support act, singer-songwriter Alan, with a set of covers and two original songs. His singing is excellent quality, with other perfomers, including members of The Wanted, backstage listening and nodding in appreciation.
Next, Amelia Lily takes to the stage, powering on with early hit ‘Shut Up and Give Me Whatever You Got’. The Middlesbrough-born star continues with a cover of Bruno Mars’ ‘Locked Out of Heaven’, and really hits her stride with her idol Pink’s ‘Just Like a Pill’. A short, sharp, powerful set that gets the crowd cheering even as the rain fights for attention, she finishes up with new track, ‘Be A Fighter’, a spirited, clap-along, bittersweet track with acoustic guitar accompaniment from Steve Rushen.
A.M.E. is the third support act, and the growing crowd are occasionally on their feet as she performs ‘Play the Game Boy’. She also covers ‘Survivor’ by Destiny’s Child, the video for which seems to be echoed by the crazy weather going on around the open air theatre, and her take on the track is slowed right down. Her backing band are great, full of energy, and as she urges the crowd to sing along with her final song for the evening, ‘Need U 100%’, the recent number one single, the assembled masses are warmed up and ready for The Wanted.
The Wanted
Walking into the Open Air Theatre tonight felt like walking into the arena at a festival, I was greeted by a sea of ponchos, burger van smells and excitable fans with home made banners. The Wanted lads bounced onto stage and opened with ‘Invincible’ which had the rows of squealing fans jumping and clapping along straight off the bat. The group showed endless reserves of energy, dancing and joking with each other, and of course, pretending to push each other off the stage and into the water below.
Throwing never before performed covers into the set, the boys were backed up by a fantastic musical foursome. Their ‘Killers’ medley was brand new for this audience, and various band-members took up instruments, including Siva on guitar and Nathan on piano. They achieved lovely harmonies throughout.
The screams of the crowd were deafening at times, as was their accompaniment, singing along to feel-good pop hits. The energy was infectious and I found myself singing to songs I didn’t even know I knew. The lighting was colourful and effective too, adding another element as it evolved from festival feel to party atmosphere somewhere in the twilight, a seamless transition.
All in all the boys gave a fun-loving and enjoyable performance and despite the rain, finished off their set with ‘Glad You Came’ to a delightfully unexpected fireworks display that ensured the Scarborough following were very glad they came.
