much fun,” before jumping into “Home Is Where the Hurt Is.”
The encore was the powerhouse of the performance, rooted in the band’s core truth: there’s always a way to move forward. “Dedicate yourself and you gon’ find yourself standing in the hall of fame,” they sang in the closing number, “Hall of Fame.” It was like drinking liquid adrenaline, to hear such an iconic song with all the life and intensity it champions.
Especially after their performance, I am all the more convinced that The Script is a band that will stand strong through the years. Their forever-relevant messages, persistence to spread positivity through their lyrics and a timeless fortitude through their melodies are all reasons why they’ve come so far. As tough as they may seem, there’s a fearless vulnerability that always shines through, setting them apart from the rest of the music world. Their words are free of anger, regret and pessimism, replaced instead by laudable aspiration and ambition — true role models of the times.
As the band took the stage under shadow, cheers erupted from the audience, the air turning electric with anticipation and excitement. As I gripped my camera, I felt my ears pricking to catch their opening notes and my eyes probing the darkness for Danny O’Donoghue, The Script’s lead vocalist, to send the first words of “Superheroes” out into the crowd.
The Irish rock band performed at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Sept. 10 as part of their “Satellites World Tour.” Originally formed in 2001 in Dublin, the band is best known for their early 2000s hit singles “Hall of Fame” (featuring will.i.am) and “Breakeven.” “Satellites” is their first album since the passing of founding member and lead guitarist, Mark Sheehan, in 2023. The band now consists of O’Donoghue, Glen Power on drums, Benjamin Sargent on bass and Ben Weaver on guitar. Native San Franciscan band Analog Dog opened the show with a setlist driven by the psychedelic pop soundscapes of the 90s.
When Power, Sargent and Weaver took their places on stage, the crowd leaned forward, all senses heightened. O’Donoghue emerged in a bedazzled black blazer to greet the tangible buzz emanating from the hall after a few notes into the first song. Striding energetically across the stage, he pumped up sections of the crowd, pointing his microphone toward them and inviting them to join in during the chorus. After a rendition of “Rain,” the band performed the first track from the new album, “Both Ways,” one of my personal favorites. With its snappy, conversational verses, whistling, electrical guitar and upbeat chorus, it’s exactly the sort of song you’d want to hear on a day at the beach in summer.
The band was always sure to include the audience in the show. At the request of an audience member, they performed “At Your Feet” earlier than expected: “We’ll do it for you, mate,” O’Donoghue noted, launching into the gentle rock song.
