Was at One Direction concert in Dublin last night and can't help feeling that...

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

... they are short-changing everyone a bit?

I enjoyed it but it just wasn't that spectacular.
They are good looking lads,they have some good songs and they can sing but it was all a bit 'meh' for me. It didn't help that it was cold and rained a bit, but still.

I wouldn't say I was a westlife fan but i've been to a good few of their concerts and really enjoyed them (I used to accompany my little cousin so her mum didn't have to go). Any other pop band would have dancers etc. Little mix for example - would LOVE to see them live. They had nothing, and only 'changed their outfits' by putting on more layers because it was fecking baltic in croke park. I get that the dancing and different/unusual costumes thing isn't their M-O but why the feck not? It's not like their fan base is incredibly mature and too old for a bit of cheese? Plus, so many album tracks. Ok for the die hard twitter teens, but not so good for all the mummies (or aunties in my case (I have 2 DSs (5 and 2) so not with me) and younger fans (of which their were thousands. Not one cover either. I love an alternative, unexpected cover, but no.

Even the staging and special effects were just ok. No massive surprises. There a bit in the middle which was a bit unexpected but the rest was just par for the course. The techies behind the bits that appeared on the big screens behind them put in much more effort than all the boys combined.

They did all seem to be genuinely chuffed for Niall, who did seem to be v emotional at playing in Croke park (v much considered sacred ground in ireland) and they mentioned a few times that it was the biggest crowd they had ever played to.

Maybe I have the wrong idea about it all. I'm sure plenty of you are going in the coming weeks. You might love it.

Oh that documentary was terrifying. So many mentally unhinged young ladies.

Aside from the stalking, sending abusive messages to their girlfriends etc the weirdest part for me was the 'larry shipping'. This is where they all imagine and come up with soft (ish) porn stories and drawings of a romantic relationship between band members (particularly Harry and Louis). Its a if-I-can't-have-you-no-other-girl-can thing. Weird. I've never wished that someone I fancied was gay?!

I watched that documentary and yes some of those girls were terrifying, but I think social media allows them to get that way? I was just the right age for Take That part 1, but you could only get your fix from occasional TOTP appearances and Smash Hits magazine. There were some die hard groups of fans who followed them around but most of the obsessing was confined to talking to the posters on your bedroom wall. You didn't ever have 'access' to a band like you apparently do on twitter, when there's actually a chance, albeit it small, that the boy in question might actually notice you exist if you threaten to kill yourself (along with the other thousand girls that day).

I spent many a happy hour sat on the wall outside the house of the mum and dad of a well known 80s band member. When he finally pulled up in his car one day I didn't know what to say to him.

Agree re twitter letting them have access and fuelling the obsession.

Out of curiosity I went onto twitter after the concert and seen that something was doing the rounds saying that a girl living 20 mins from croker could hear the fans chanting "niall! niall!...".

Odd that I missed that, being in the stadium and all.

Oh god yes, the gay thing !

John Taylor Sparkling ?

Might have been Cocole.

Can anyone who went to Dublin tell me the timings please? Dd is going to the Etihad and the gates open at 5pm. Was that the same in Dublin? When did the support start and when do 1D come on?

Hopefully they weren't so bothered about big weekend because they crowd aren't there just to see them, unlike their own concerts.

The timings for Dublin weren't officially released online by the promoters (it kept saying doors open 5pm, concert over 10:15 but nothing more), but I was able to get a break down on the garda website. It had said 5sos were due to be on at 6:15 and 1d at 8:15, but 5sos came on at 7 on the dot. 1d was 8:20. Concert was over before 10:10.

An American star interviewed on a chat show who took his daughter to see them said he couldn't understand the fuss. He demonstrated their special walking across the stage skills! I wish I could remember his name because then I could find the YouTube clip...

They do seem to be 'taking it all very seriously' types. Considering they can't dance and can't really sing you'd think they would make an effort to put on a fun show.

1D don't have anything that will ensure any type of longevity. They can't sing or dance, they don't play instruments or write their own songs.

When they pack it in they can't live off royalties.

My guess is the management are making hay while the sun shines. Pretty boy looks won't last forever........

I feel sorry for them. They are probably being forced by their management to do a ridiculous number of gigs. No wonder they're exhausted. They probably don't have much time to enjoy their wealth and fame. Yes it's maybe weird to feel sorry for multi millionaires, but I do. I wouldn't want their lives for anything.

I still expect them to be great for my DD next week though!

YY all this will be down to management squeezing out every last penny they are worth right now, because they and everyone else know this is not forever.

I wouldn't say they can't sing. The singing was fine. But none of it was terribly difficult to sing. There's probably a reason they don't have a lead singer.

And niall did play guitar quite a bit during the show. He also wrote one of the songs they sang and I know he collaborates with others to write. They might not be the most complex of songs though.

Sorry Never I didn't know there was a teeny bit of talent. Perhaps there's hope for Niall at least.

Well they did have to sing live on x factor every week and came second I think. Compared to little mix though, who won their year and were fantastic, they were a bit dull.

YY true, I have to say I don't watch X Factor, mainly because I have DSs who aren't interested. I think Leona's win was the last series i watched.

Well we went to the Dublin gig last night!

My daughter was so besotted she sobbed the whole way through!

It was defo the Niall show. He played guitar a lot during the show. Liam did the majority of the talking and that was it. A few fireworks and lots of songs and flashing lights.

There wasn't really a show. I'd say 5SOS were much better, more engaging too. (Although don't tell DD)

Ronan Keating was sitting 2 rows in front of us so I have about 100 pics of the back of his head lol.

Hurrah for Niall! Are your ears still ringing Captain?

Yes I thought liam spoke more than the others. When Louis spoke I couldn't help feeling he sounds a bit like a girl.

Hope I didn't ruin it for you captain. You might have enjoyed it more without the prior warning.

I'm taking dd to the Murrayfield gig next week, had kinda forgotten about it until today actually!
Does anyone know where I will find info about it? Doors opening, support act, time 1D onstage, finishing time etc?

Sparkling, ears not too bad as it was mostly little ones sitting with us.
Never no u didn't ruin it, I had been to see Katie Perry a few weeks ago so it was never gonna beat that.
It was really pissing me off how they kept talking amongst themselves on the stage! They aren't really natural performers.

Dancemom if it helps. 5 SOS came on at 7pm and 1d came on at 8:15. Whole thing was over about 10:15

A group of us are going to the Ethiad on Saturday, taking kids with ages ranging from 6 to 16. My DD (the 16 year old) is a big rock fan (as am I) who is usually found at Festivals and rock gigs so the fact she loves 1D came as a bit of a shocker. It's her 'dirty secret' though, even her friends don't know.

I'm not going there expecting to see something like Metallica or Iron Maiden, I'm going expecting to see a boyband, a pop group. TBH I'm mildly excited having never seen a 'pop' group before and I wouldn't for a second try and compare it to something Metallica would do.
The fact that I have no experience of 'pop' bands probably means I won't be disappointed in the show as I've got nothing to compare it to.

Either way, it will be a laugh, the kids of all ages will be incredibly happy and DH gets a quiet night in.

Thanks Captain