Brothers Leto play album front to back

No, I’m not a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars, but what else do you do when you arrive in Dublin on the late flight and don’t fancy an early night in your grotty hotel?

For the first time in their career the band played two shows on the same night, to accomodate the demand for tickets while dealing with a tight schedule. All of emo-Ireland gathered at The Ambassador, a worn out venue that used to be a cinema and will soon be a library, if I’m not mistaken.

The horde of teenagers was clad in black, pretty features enhanced with thick mascara. Emo kids, comparable to 80s Goths, but somehow sexier. Self assured, more money in the pocket, designer accessories in the bag. I have never seen so many digital cameras at a show. It’s fun to watch them have so much fun.

Jared and his band rushed through the first concert on the night. They were late and half their gear was stuck in traffic somewhere. The younger fans had to make do with a 40-minute show, but the grave yard shift sort of got their money’s worth. It takes 60 minutes for the band to play their second album Beautiful Lie in its entirety, in sequence, from ‘Attack’ to the hidden track and Bjork-cover ‘Hunter’.

Sparks flew. The band are well rehearsed, professional but not coasting. They seemed to be enjoying themselves too, and though you never know with these L.A. boys, genuinely surprised by the Irish crowd’s vocal fervour.

Leto – a good frontman, not a bad actor, I don’t really believe his flimsy lyrics – wrapped himself in an Irish flag and donned a hat. For a moment his strutting reminded me of the young Bono, though the music pummelled, never really soared the way the Irish band’s would. Playing without their own light show or P.A. has brought the band closer the audience, Leto said: ‘Thank you so fucking much.’

Short trip to Dub

ireland-met.jpg

‘Mostly dry’. That doesn’t sound too bad then. I’m hopping over to the Emerald Isle for a day’s worth of photo recce (for a shoot next month), perhaps some shopping, and a late night 30 Seconds to Mars show. Not that I’m a big fan or anything, but I’m sure both band and audience will be a sight to see.

Talking about a sight to see… (Yeah, grasping at straws here) Torchwood S2e02… now that’s more like it! This director gave Barrowman much less time and space, which cut down on his showiness. Now all they need to do is clean out his ears… that’s the only reason I can think of why he is always SO MUCH LOUDER than the other actors. Or is it just the Tom Cruise school of acting?

Loved the Monster of the Week. The woman playing Beth did so awesomely and the steely eyed sleeper dad was just the right amount of creepy and silly.