OK, perhaps not everyone But those who didn't like it were in a small minority

Considering they only had a week to rehearse I think they did fantastically well. In fact some of the other Josephs, like Rob, said they only had three days to learn the songs as they had been asked late to appear.

It wasn't a flashy show, it was all about the boys. I think we all agree that the material isn't exactly right for them but they did a brilliant job with it and looked like they were really having fun. The vocals were excellent from all of them. Craig was fab, Lewis, Chris B, Anthony and Chris C were all excellent too and it was great to see Seamus, Johndeep and Rob. What really showed was the camaraderie between all of them and despite the fact that it wasn't a perfectly polished performance, it was a really good show - just not quite long enough for most of us.

There was a problem with one of the microphones for one of the songs, which might account for the 'embarrassing' comment, but apart from that it went smoothly and it wasn't cheesy at all.

Hope that helps.

For the whole second half the boys never left the stage. I believe they gave a fantastic show. They recieved a standing ovation at the end. From my point of view i thought it was well put together the first song was the boys are back in town, which was a brilliant song to start on, with the last song being dream on, which was also an ideal song, to be last.
For me Chris B stood out but im a bartonette so im biased, but Craig and Antony also stood out for me too. I think they also did a brilliant job and you could tell they were enjoying themselves. Chris B's and Lewis's dancing was superb when Lewis sang Kiss.

I dont believe it was 'bizarre, messy and embarrassing'. But thats just my opinion everyone has the right to their own. I think it was a fantastic show, everyone ive spoken too loved it.

Hope that helps

Reading about it on the various boards would suggest otherwise!


Isn't that what most people who give concerts do, but for 2 halfs not one!

That's great - something that helps to get a feel for the show.

I read today that Chris C had to take saturday out of rehearsals and perform two shows to cover for Gary Wilmot as Kipps in Half a Sixpence. I have seen the show and that is a tough call.

These guys are working hard and deserve to get something for their endeavours.

What are peoples thoughts on the band idea??

from an factual point of view a couple of times the mikes didn't work, but Bill Kenwright who was across the ailse from us got up and was gone for a few minutes and when he came back it was sorted.
I was actually surprised at how polished the performances were and yes some of the boys had better stage presence than the others, but they are the boys who have been performing recently.
I would say that it was no where near long enough for my liking and i thought Craig Hill was absolute garbage.
As for cheesy I like cheesy!
But the boys were great Chris B totally stands out and I have now changed my opinion on Lewis as I thought he came across brilliant

Personally I'd prefer them to stick to theatre. Pop bands are difficult and expensive to get to see and concerts are so impersonal. Theatre is much more of an experience and they are all talented enough to make great leading men.

If they did become a band they'd have to choose their material very wisely.

I loved the concert and don't actually care what anyone else thinks
Last edited by Stashy B : 19-02-2008 at 22:59

From someone who couldn't make it to the concert, my impression of it from the build up was that this concert was a gift from Bill Kenwright to the Josephs. For them to have a chance to perform together one more time, to highlight Dream On and to give their fans a chance to see them.

The last bit is one of the most important! All of the fans that I've heard from enjoyed it completely and these are fans who have been honest about all the performances of Joseph, etc to date.

From the sounds of some of the negative comments both on this site and other sites, I get the impression that there was non-fans who went to the concert only to ridicule and I feel there is no need to post their comments on appreciation threads. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but why would you pay to go to something you don't want to enjoy or hope that the people do well?

I enjoyed reading the comments about the concert from the boys' fans and hope to hear a lot more and wish all the Josephs - those who performed at the concert and those who didn't - all the best for their future careers, whatever they do.

well from what I've read the boys' fans really enjoyed it which is great, from others mixed reactions but mainly against the format.

however I think saying they only had a week to rehearse is a poor excuse - it was in the West End and they were charging WE prices so it should have been produced professionally and anything else was unfair on the lads who sound like they gave it their all.

I think it is always very difficult to be unbiased when watching the Joe's you support and I think that is only natural. I go into mother hen mode when anyone has a pop at Ben yet I am not so blind that i do not see things through completely rose tinted glasses.

I also thought it was a mess and that is not the boy's fault but the fault of the production/lighting/stage direction. There were also some mic issues which made some of the boys not sound at their very best vocally. If anything I am cross at BK for putting on this show with so little rehearsal time and charging west end prices. It was also billed as Craig and friends with special guest appearances and that didn't happen. The special guests were on the stage for practically the whole night and the only one to have a complete solo song was Lewis. With 8 Joe's on that stage they could easily have padded it out to a longer show with solos and duets. Songs they sang from Joseph would not have taken much rehearsal time.

Anyway i am really pleased that the fans of the boys had such a great time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves which is the main thing. I went along at the last minute at of curiosity and I am not writing this to cause trouble but to give my honest opinion. I just hope that the boys are steered in a good direction and not used as a cash cow. They deserve better. They all have talent and great voices.

Don't be sorry. Actually I'm not sure what you're sorry for lol Moved on from what? Now you've puzzled me

I was just saying what I'd read on the other boards. I can link if you'd like?? I didn't realise this thread was reserved for a select few and thought it was for all DS memebers to post on. What do you mean by "these threads"?!!

It was under rehearsed and overpriced - I usually pay 17-22pounds to see a band in london this cost me over 30 and was half as long as most sets.
I thought Craigs vocal much poorer than in mobile Jo, perhaps its suffering from overuse.
Chris B and Lewis' dance was amazing and they should have padded the show out with more of that.
It was weird how Seamus then Johndeep then Rob joined and stayed.
Although I enjoyed it it was strange having a comedian and not a musical act as warmup.
The choice of songs was bland. The links between songs were pure cheese.

Edit to add, I didnt know this was an appriciation thread, thought it was a general one about the album/show.
I liked Craig and Chris B in mobile Joe, I liked Lewis on ADWD and in Joseph and I liked Anthony on ADWD,
bought a ticket as soon as I heard about the show as I wanted to see it, got worried nearer the time as it
didnt sound like it was going to be as I originally expected.

As one who very much enjoyed the gig on Sunday, I thought I would give you my version of events.

The comedian was indeed very funny, and unexpected, quite risque.

Michael Barrymore, Bill Kenwright, Connie Fisher and Siobhan Dillon (from Grease) were all spotted in the interval.

The anticipation was really building by the time the boys burst onto the stage singing The Boys Are Back In Town. Every one of them delivered faultless performances of songs from the CD and songs they had sung on Any Dream Will Do. Craig in particular got the chance to show off his beautiful pure voice, and the highlight for me was his performance of This Is The Moment sung with so much passion there were people in tears!

Apart from the five making up Craig and friends, Seamus, Johndeep and Rob joined the boys, and seeing them in their Joseph coats again brought back all the emotion of the ADWD shows. Connie also joined the boys on stage for Daydream Believer.

The reception they got from the packed audience was amazing, it was so well received, with a standing ovation after Dream On, the perfect anthemic end to a wonderful night.

They didn't need any excuses! I'm amazed that they only had a week to rehearse! You would never have guessed it from the performances they gave.

I don't think that lack of rehearsal time is being used as an excuse for anything although I suspect it may have been largely the reason that the whole thing was far too short - as there wasn't time to rehearse any new material.

Cheesy - yes in parts, but great fun nonetheless. I think it was one of those occasions where you got out of it what you were prepared to put into it. We went to enjoy ourselves, and enjoy ourselves we did I do agree however that the format probably wasn't the best, but the lads put everything into it and looked as if they were having the time of their lives.

I was impressed by them all particularly Chris Barton (I will admit to possibly being slightly biased there though), and Antony who was probably the biggest surprise for me - loved him Craig singing This Is The Moment was a real hightlight.

I couldn't believe the reception they got or the hundreds of screaming girls at the stage door They obviously impressed a huge proportion of the audience as it certainly wasn't us making all that noise...

People have commented on the show but nobody has put forward a view on the band scenario. Bill Kenwright has been quoted as 'let's wait and see'.

What do we all think?

With the right material - original rather than covers - is their a future for 'Dream On'?

I think with the right material there could be a future for dream on. They are all very strong singers in their own right. When they sing alone never mind together they really blow you away! I surpose it depends on the overall album sales as well as their decisions and Bill Kenwrights decision on if they would like to continue with the band or not, or if they would rather focus on theatre.
Last edited by *Annabel* : 19-02-2008 at 23:25

I'm with Stashy on this one, I loved the concert. I thought the boys were fab and sang brilliantly.

Chris' and Lewis' dancing was superb, all the harmonies fantastic and it was a really fun evening with a great atmosphere.

Given the chance, I'd make the journey to see it all over again.

X Rogue X

Chalet I am not a particular fan of any of the boys from Sunday night BUT I have been around these boards from the very beginning and although I have always championed Ben . I have also always wanted ALL of the Joe's to do well. I very much doubt anyone would spend that amount of money with the specific intention of going to ridicule the boys. I very much wanted them to do well. and as I said previously my beef is with BK and staging etc.

I have been to mobile Joe and thoroughly enjoyed Craig's performance and was bowled over with his acting which as an avid ADWD viewer knew that was his weakest area. I was also saddened that even his big moment on ADWD was not repeated on that stage as the other boys joined in. Lewis had a solo so why couldn't Craig?

I am glad you and the others had such a great time but i think you are being unfair if you cannot accept that not everyone agrees with you and if they disagree it is because they are not a fan.

Sunday night was west end prices and that alone led me to believe we would be given a show of west end standard.

I understood this thread was for a review of the show and not an appreciation thread. We have a Hairspray one for Ben and we have had posters saying they enjoyed the show but not so kean on Ben's performance. We have to accept that not everyone has the same taste or sees what we do. thamk goodness or perhaps we would all be Lee Mead fans (only joking Lovelees!!)

Having a comic for the whole of first half (however good / bad he was) is most bizarre. All I wanted to read were some objective reviews; the good, the bad and the ugly so thanks to those who provided some objectivity.

Will be interesting to see what's next for them as a 'group'...

BB what you have said is very fair and i did enjoy all the screams for the boys as they came onto the stage especially the two Chris's , Anthony and Lewis. The enthusiasm did make me smile. I am not a complete party pooper! but I still stand by my comments and hope that BK manages to read some of the negative ones. i know several people were planning on e-mailing him and I hope they did

After everything that has been said, could I just say they achieved what they set out to do.

It was to celebrate their success, to promote the album and most of all to have fun. I believe that was BK's aim. Fun they certainly had and the audience had a lot of fun watching them. (Well most of us.)

I think Craig was very generous with his sharing of the stage with the others and as a big Craig fan I think he should have done more solo stuff, but hey, it was about all of them and that's fine with me.

Well done to all those who played a part.

Unfortunately I could not get to see the show. However, I would have been biased and enjoyed it even if it had been in the Church Hall in Paddington, so I will refrain from going there.

However, I can give a view on 'the band'. The CD is mainly covers, yes, with a very apt and well performed original, written for them. They all sing well individually, and harmonise beautifully. Personally, I like to hear covers as well as new material, as memories play a big part in my enjoyment of music.
The boys are all young and have their future in front of them. These days many careers do not follow just one path. Pop stars join stage shows, stage performers gain a whole new audience through tv appearances and albums. I think they should give it a go. There would be enough support from the ADWD experience to get them started and they have the talent to win a much wider audience given the right direction. Who says they can't also take time out to pursue their stage dreams as well.

I agree with you 100% on that one Annabel, the boys voices deserve so much better than the mediocre song choices on the album (i do listen to it everyday tho).

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think it would be nice if everyone got behind these lads and really supported them, even if it is just as a thank you to them for providing us with such amazing entertainment on ADWD and any seperate projects since then.