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REVIEW: Boyzlife brought 90s and 00s nostalgia to Aberdeen

Boyzlife performing at the Music Hall.
Boyzlife performing at the Music Hall. All photos by Wullie Marr/ DC Thomson.

Boyzlife. As a band name, it’s marginally better than McBusted.

Created in 2016 when Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and Westlife’s Brian McFadden joined forces, last night’s Boyzlife show at the Music Hall in Aberdeen was what you might expect… and quite a bit more.

It is easy to forget just how dominant boy bands were in the 90s and early 00s. Boyzone and Westlife chalked up a staggering 18 UK number-one singles between them and shifted some 55 million records worldwide.

This was at a time when you had to walk to the record shop (remember those?) and buy them. It’s no surprise then that Duffy and McFadden have a seriously strong pop songbook to lean on.

Boyzlife play biggest hits for Aberdeen fans

The duo are on their ‘Old School’ tour, and it is just that – a run of 27 UK shows, from Truro to the Granite City. It harks back to a time when acts performed in provincial towns as well as cities to promote their records.

Boyzlife performing at the Music Hall. All photos by Wullie Marr/ DC Thomson.

Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, backed by an impressive six-piece live band, delivered a 90-minute set that was fun, had some touching moments, costume changes and showed the chemistry between the pair of them.

There were stories about their time working together and a nice tribute to Boyzone member Stephen Gately, who passed away in 2009. This saw members of the local Phoenix Theatre group up on stage, providing stirring backing vocals for Different Beat.

Vocally, neither Brian McFadden nor Keith Duffy have truly distinctive voices, but they blend well, which is exactly what is needed in vocal groups.

Then there are those songs. From opener Love Me For A Reason to the huge hook of Boyzone’s No Matter What, it was hit after hit. So much so that the Aberdeen audience, which was almost exclusively middle-aged women, were on their feet from the very start.

Boyzlife gig in Aberdeen
Did you enjoy Boyzlife’s gig in Aberdeen?

Boyzone and Westlife fans flocked to Music Hall

As well as plundering the Westlife and Boyzone catalogue, Duffy and McFadden (sounds like a law firm) performed a Beach Boys medley that added to the party night feel.

Rather like a drum solo, “Here’s a new one!” is often a cue for audience members to head out for a comfort break. In Boyzlife’s case it also means having to leave out a number one song or two, but to be fair. the emotive Burn For You stood up well in the set.

Talking of modern music, earlier on Nashville’s Keelie Walker opened the night with a short set of backing track-led R&B that was energetic but did seem to pass the Aberdeen audience by.

In contrast, Boyzone closed the show with a rousing version of Uptown Girl that had everyone on their feet again to end the perfect throwback party night. Terrific.

Boyzlife are currently on tour. Tickets for their upcoming dates can be purchased here.

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