I can't deny I was dreading this event! Ticketmaster had failed to post out tickets in time, we faced he prospect of a room full of teenage fans and frankly this is not my usual choice of music. However Ticketmaster and staff at The Garage got the sold out crowd into a small venue with the minimum of fuss. There was plenty of room for everyone with the fans at the stage and 'others' includiing me at the well staffed bar.
The biggest surprise was that while working his teen-heartthrob thing to the max, it turns out Darren Criss can actually sing the hell out of a song live and is an accomplished musician. On covers of Carole King and Maroon 5 numbers, as well as his own quirky material, his voice displayed a remarkable range, soaring over the screaming fans and noisy bar crowd. HIs self-assured and confident performance electrified the room. Sure, it was a little chaotic and cutesy at times but that brought a charm of its own to things and his connection with his adoring teen audience never wavered. 4 shows in two days, after a long Glee tour, had clearly taken its toll and at times he seemed tired with his closing number feeling highly contrived. Despite this my guest and I felt we would certainly like to see what happens as this young man and his music matures. Once removed from the clutches of the dreaded 'Glee' , and having learned to rest his voice occasionally, we can certainly expect great things from this guy.
The Garage @
- London @
- Wed 6 Jul 2011 @
Favourite moment: Beautiful version of One Fine Day and the craziness of the AVPM material. @
Opening act(s): No opening Act @