NAOMI Coleman's young band opened for Brian Kennedy here with easy, late night song, an appropriate mood enhancer for the Belfast singer, who is neither Joe Heaney nor Daniel O'Donnell, but has all the charisma of both Brian Kennedy is a Gucci Van Morrison tall and languorous, impeccable white suit, black V-neck T-shirt, long dark hair parted in the middle and tied back, an emerald green guitar sash, white patent shoes.
He looked as if he should be saying "intercourse" when he inhaled its four letter namesake in Crazy Love. His fans knew the stuff Give Me A Reason brought cheers Town from my first record" got a gasp of pleasure "There must be a thousand songs to sing about this place ..." the lyrics went. Indeed, and the break into falsetto with a hand on the breast swooned the followers. A Valentino wave and it was on to heart wrenching dobro from the lead guitarist. A magnificent six string electric bass was surpassed only by its player, kit drums metered the mood, synthesiser hung it all on an almost Sixties peg.
Screaming female fans contributed to the choruses in perfect tune during the band's orchestrated silences. Then the jacket came off to wolf whistles, the voice full of passion, Sacred Heart hands pleaded in Crucifixion pose it was only left to the audience to imagine the spear in the heart. Here was a gentle, lovable soul, terrific singer and not a bit precious. The epitome of popular music's modus operandi, Kennedy could have mediated anybody's fantasy.
