Beardyman, live at the Button Factory

It's hard not to get swept away by the Beardyman live show, as is evidenced tonight by the heaving mass of screaming fans jam-packed into Dublin's Button Factory.

Though he's famed for being a (ridiculously) gifted beatboxer, there's far more to Londoner Darren Foreman than vocal gymnastics, and tonight offers something of a glimpse behind the magician's virtual curtain.

A writer, producer, composer and singer, 30-year-old Foreman released his debut album just last year, though he's chosen not to perform tracks from it in a live setting. Rather, he literally makes it up as he goes along. Speaking to Hot Press' Celina Murphy last summer, Foreman explained, “I wanna make new stuff every time I play. That’s what I’m into really, just sort of seeing what I can do."

Going by tonight's performance, 'what he can do' is, well, pretty much bleedin' everything. Rocking no less than three iPads, Foreman also reveals he's using software he developed himself (as you do). Though the intricacies of the technology being used tonight may be somewhat lost on less technically-minded folk (this reporter), it has sound-engineer types (this reporter's other half) all a-fluster in admiration... "He's engineering HIMSELF up there!!"

Effortlessly making pulsing beats as he goes along, Foreman dips from drum 'n' bass (his genre of choice) to reggae and hip hop - complete with flawless rap - without batting an eyelid. As ever, he offers to whip up ditties based on fans' word suggestions - a challenge if ever there was one. It perhaps says much about our collective maturity level that the first two offerings are 'Tampax' and 'Jimmy Savile' (unrelated musings, we hope.) Nonetheless, Foreman launches into a bass-heavy ode to 'that time of the month' before imagining a conversation between Savile and the Devil, over dark and rumbling drum 'n' bass. Creepy, yep - but top marks for innovation.

It's the visuals behind Foreman though that make this live show utterly compelling. Cameras from all angles capture what he's doing and project images onto a screen behind him. What we can only guess must be some kind of half-monkey/ half-machine backstage then adds trippy effects to what we're seeing - in real time - resulting in a breathtaking stream of aesthetic madness.

A fantastic show from a phenomenally gifted performer.