Cian Ducrot, Glasgow review: 'unremarkable'
This Glasgow show from Cian Ducrot suggested that all the classic MOR power ballads may already have been written, writes Paul Whitelaw
Cian Ducrot, Academy, Glasgow ★★
A 28-year-old singer-songwriter from County Cork, Cian Ducrot is essentially a slick old-fashioned entertainer in the Barry Manilow mould. Granted, he swears more on stage than I daresay Manilow ever has, but he's definitely part of that lineage (Bazza is better, obviously).
Ducrot is an affable lad with a decent yet unremarkable voice and a cache of polished yet undistinguished songs. He's one of those pop stars – for hit-making pop star he most certainly is – who actually refers to themselves as an artist while droning on with painful sincerity about the “journeys” he goes on while writing songs.
Those earnest telegrams from the heart include Can't Even Hate You, a piano ballad which in its live iteration features a prolonged minor-key cod-classical intro (this naturally reminded me of Lick My Love Pump from the late, great Rob Reiner's This Is Spinal Tap). It also suggests that all the classic overwrought MOR power ballads have already been written, leaving people like Ducrot with no choice but to plod through the same old chords while wailing at strangers with their eyes closed.
Not that's he's afraid to show off his lighter side. At one point he donned a sparkly Santa hat and gave out presents to the crowd, but that playful bit of business was topped by the undeniably sweet moment during The Book of Love when he plucked a young woman from the crowd – she was, I kid you not, wearing a Bananas in Pyjamas jumpsuit - to show solidarity with her personal story of heartbreak. He also respectfully paused the concert when a man in the crowd apparently fainted.
An inoffensive, harmless pro, Ducrot gives his people what they want. Artists like him will always exist.
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