Boyzone @ Cardiff CIA, 22 February 2011

Cardiff International Arena - 22 February 2011
It's an emotional night as Boyzone's Brother tour rolls into Cardiff and from the moment you step into the Arena it's impossible to ignore that there's somebody missing. Still, you can't realistically expect Kenny Dalgleish to attend every show on the tour so it's back to business with a bump in the Welsh capital.

Boyzone clearly believe in keeping things in the family and so tonight's package tour explodes into life with a stark and sexually charged performance from Shane's siblings, ex-B*Witched stars Edele and Keavy Lynch. Their Shakespears Sister-inspired show is warmly received but it's left to Wonderland, protegees of Westlife's Kian, to ramp up the excitement with a pulsating glimpse of what's possibly in store for the charts this Summer.

As the lights dim for Boyzone Cardiff loses all sense of decorum and the place goes wild, with hordes of largely 'old enough to know better' ladies stampeding for the front of the stage. Foolishly, your correspondent forgets his earplugs and while the volume levels of the music are well within tolerance levels the hysterical screaming threatens to permanently damage eardrums. The hyped-up crowd are treated to a majestic, electric performance - the band emerging from the heavens like gods perched atop towering pedestals and pausing only for a short but touching video interlude which allows some communal but tasteful respects to be paid to the much lamented Stephen Gately.

There's barely a dry eye in the house but tonight is a celebration and when our lads re-enter the fray, the fans get to lay their hands upon our heroes as they head across the arena to a more intimate stage. By the time they reach a climax with Life is A Rollercoaster there's barely anything dry left in the house. Two more nights of this Cardiff? M&S underwear sales will be going through the roof.

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nanie