Live music: Don McLean

Vocally frayed in parts and sporting a Woganesque inch-high comb-over, Don McLean still delivers a truly compelling show.

The set has no duds. Great homages to Buddy Holly, Elvis, Orbison etc, plus his own bottomless bag of hits like Vincent, Crying, And I Love You So, Mountains of Mourne and the still magical American Pie. He’s the undisputed world champion of repertoire, undefeated and due to turn 70 in October.

But this is only part of the story. As a character, he’s an oddly endearing kettle of fish. Clearly loving this audience and repeatedly praising the great Opera House acoustics, he’s poetic, even quixotic at times; then he drifts into curmudgeonly grandpaw rants against figurative City Hall suits knocking “great halls like this one” to build car parks, and the delusions of rap stars.

“I am an old-fashioned performer,” he says early in the show. “I thank you for taking the time and spending the money to be here. I will try to entertain you, and don’t expect anyone to kiss my ass for doing so. Not like rap singers, who have no talent anyway and still expect people to kiss their ass all day long.”

great @donmcleanonline show @CorkOperaHouse last night. warm-up act Chelsea Chambers v good too. full review in Saturday's @irishexaminer

— Joe Dermody (@JoeDermody) June 5, 2015

And herein lies this legend’s majesty. He is at all times, always and ever real. No fake smiles, no frills, and, fittingly enough on this visit to Cork, no blarney.

While his voice no longer has the upper register pirouettes that were his trademark in the 1980s, he stays exposed at all times; not one note of backing vocal came from his rocking mic-less five-piece band.

Instead what we get is almost two hours of pure, honest music, sometimes ragged at the edges, yet always inspired and uplifting.

There’s a reason why the venue was packed to the rafters; McLean is still a class act. For anyone who missed this sold-out show, he returns to the Opera House in September.

A word also to warm-up act Chelsea Chambers. The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland has written some great songs and she really connected with this audience. Big future ahead.

Well, who saw Don McLean last night? Wasn't he amazing? Don't forget he's back here on September 26th so you... http://t.co/dBieqqUTFT

— Cork Opera House (@CorkOperaHouse) June 5, 2015