Gig review: Michael Bublé, Glasgow Hydro

Michael Bublé - Glasgow Hydro

* * *

On the first of a three-night stand in Glasgow, the jazzier interludes propped up the pop blah, thanks to his nifty band, who individually received their due with credentials on screen and comical introductions from their frontman (“the dinosaurs didn’t believe in this guy – now they’re extinct”).

But where he always scored was in his generosity to the fans. Bublé appreciates the value of giving the audience some ownership of the show. He wasted no time in getting hands-on with the front rows, accepting gifts, reading out signs and posing for selfies. When the moment came for him to make his way to the snazzy catwalk encircling the really expensive seats, he simply ploughed through the crowd, pressing flesh and ruffling hair as he went.

Once there, he performed a mini-set of soul standards with vocal backing from support group Naturally 7, plus a feelgood All You Need Is Love, with accompanying showers of paper hearts, which would have ended the concert on a natural high – except that, being a giving sort, the show was not quite over.

Bublé is no belter, and his laid back, almost lazy vocal style is not entirely suited to a hall of this size, but his daring move to bow out by singing an unamplified portion of A Song For You paid off, once his happy audience had quietened enough to listen.

Seen on 08.03.14