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| Darius Stands Tall To Silence Critics |
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| BY ERIN MCELHINNEY Darius ***** Playhouse SIMON COWELL would have had to slink away with his tail between his legs. The man who he once wrote off as "not good enough", performed last night to a sold-out Playhouse, inspiring applause and screams that almost raised the roof. Darius has come a long way since the days when he walked Edinburgh�s streets as a lowly university student, and no-one recognises this more than himself. Speaking about his Pop Stars days last night, he quickly admitted: "I was bit of a pony-tailed prat," and there would be few who could disagree, even amongst the adoring fans he was addressing. Who could forget his, ahem, "unique" take on Britney Spears� Hit Me Baby, or that meticulously-shaped goatee? But a good barber, one Pop Idol programme and a record deal with Mercury later, and Darius is all grown up, and has managed to garner a respect that Will and Gareth are sorely lacking. Even before Darius came anywhere near the stage, the atmosphere in the auditorium was relaxed and laidback - especially for a group that largely consisted of young teenage girls clutching soft toys, flowers and banners in their hands. Support band Peppercorn were warmly received, and set the tone for the evening, with their acoustic soft rock gently hyping the crowd up. Such a peaceful intro made Darius� exuberant opening all the more dramatic. Not since Elvis have we seen so much grand standing and knee swivelling. From the first second he appeared, posing on a raised podium centre stage, Darius strutted his stuff to the max. He is over the top, insanely cheerful and very, very good at what he does. Enduring not one, but two reality music shows obviously teaches you a few tricks, and Darius worked the room like a seasoned pro. He blew kisses, ordered the audience to get on their feet and shook his hips with wild abandon, pausing several times to hug the fans crowding the front of the auditorium. One young lady even found herself up on stage, being held by Darius as he crooned his ballad Girl in the Moon to her. The set list was fairly predictable, including all the tracks from his debut album Dive In, a mix of tempos and moods, but all belonging to that bouncy, foot-tapping pop that he does so well. He saved the most popular single, Colourblind, until the very end of his encore, when he was still bouncing around the stage with seemingly endless energy. There were also a few extras - covers of Sinatra�s Under My Skin and Destiny Child�s Bootilicious - while the band even played an instrumental version of the aforementioned Britney hit during a short break halfway through. Darius may not be a lyrical or melodic genius, but he can put a good tune together and even (gasp) knows more than just how to strum a guitar. His voice sounds even smoother live and any doubts that he can actually hold a note will be put to rest by this tour. Darius was also careful to ensure that his band received their fair share of the limelight, and they all seemed to be having a great time . He appeared in a succession of tight clothing, culminating in a leather kilt that caused mass swooning, and a middle-aged woman seated next to me to solemnly declare: "He�s got IT!" As much as you may despair of his boy band antics and cringe-worthy showmanship, you can't help but enjoy the spectacle. Darius may be cheesy as month-old Stilton, but he�s so sincere with it that he eventually wins you over. Thankyou to The Evening News for the story |