Australian-born RUEL is only 20 years old, and yet he has the performance experience of someone at least ten years older than him. With his debut at the ripe old age of 14, he’s already performed on multiple world tours, supporting the likes of Khalid and Shawn Mendes as well as a series of not-too-shabby headline tours of his own.

“We’re back!” he announced at one point in his set to deafening cheers, referring to the Aussie's past Irish shows. Unsurprisingly he’s very comfortable onstage, undoubtedly due to his years of experience.

RUEL at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday September 24 2023. Copyright Tamara Badran.

The show started with an intro fit for a rockstar, stuffed with incredibly intense hype music and blinding strobes that made me wonder exactly what I was getting myself into. The show then really began, and it was a bit less unexpected as he launched into his signature catchy pop. ‘GO ON WITHOUT ME’ was up first, a keyboard-driven, upbeat breakup tune that whipped the excited crowd up into a groove. It’s the first track on his debut record 4TH WALL, released earlier this year, and it set a buoyant tone for the rest of the night.

His strong features are undeniably handsome and his voice is gorgeous, with just the right amount of rasp paired with a pitch-perfect tone. He’s taking fashion cues from Harry Styles and company, daringly wearing a soft-looking sweater despite the heat of the lights. Girls shrieked as he pointed at vague sections of the crowd, and they’re clearly dedicated enough he could put in zero effort and still have the crowd’s attention– but he’s far too good of a performer for that. He jumped and twirled around the stage, making use of the large amount of space allocated for him in front of the risers on which his guitarist and drummer were perched.

RUEL at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday September 24 2023. Copyright Tamara Badran.

None of the music is overly ambitious, but it doesn’t need to be. It effortlessly cracks the pop formula with flying colours, and many of the songs like ‘GROWING UP IS ____’ and ‘I DON'T WANNA BE LIKE YOU' are going to be stuck in my head for days, if not weeks, after the gig is over.

His carefully coiffed George Michael-ish hair was quickly drenched in sweat, but he valiantly clung on to his sweater. The audience screamed at the beginning of every single song, and I wondered if he had just started with a popular run of tracks– but it was every song. His fans were so excited to be there, and I’m sure I saw tears on the cheeks of multiple people as he launched into some of the more emotional tunes halfway through.

RUEL at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday September 24 2023. Copyright Tamara Badran.

The series of sadder songs, including one acoustic unreleased song that he made with Lifeline for World Suicide Prevention Day, was a welcome change in energy. He then launched into an obligatory cover song– and somewhat bafflingly chose a piano mashup of the Black Eyed Peas’ ‘I Gotta Feeling’, Imogen Heap’s ‘Hide and Seek’ (mmm whatcha say), and One Direction’s ‘Night Changes’. The volume of the audience as they sang along to the One Direction hit was almost louder than his amplified voice, and I couldn’t believe that it had taken me until then to realise that he is a natural successor to the popular boyband. It might as well have been a One Direction club night, if not for the fans singing along to every single word of RUEL’s music.

As the show neared an end he interacted with the crowd even more, encouraging the crowd to jump (despite security having a fit at the idea of those in the upper circle of the historic 3Olympia venue jumping), and at one point climbing down to the front of the floor to lie across the barricade. He complimented the Irish crowd, commenting that Irish crowds are “always so fun” and launched into a sincerely extensive list of exactly why he loved performing for us.

RUEL at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday September 24 2023. Copyright Tamara Badran.

All in all, RUEL delivered a rousing show to a crowd of dedicated fans who could sing along to every word. He’s the kind of star that there’s no stopping, but that’s pretty old news– no longer a teenager, there’s a feeling that we’re never going to see him in a venue this small again.