Disclaimer: This is not a song-by-song review of the show. Everyone who has seen SFTH knows the songs, so I will not rehash them. Instead, I do have several moments to recount, and that will constitute my review. My apologies for the lateness of this review as well as I was preoccupied the entire week after the concert with car troubles and the deaths of two friends. Earlier this year I had planned to pledge to PBS and secure tickets for my daughter and myself to see the girls at the Palace Theater here in Louisville. A nice tax refund and time seemed to be on my side. Life, however, had other plans. Automotive repairs and paying off bills took a large chunk of the refund, but I could still swing a $250 pledge. Enter a trip to the optometrist and two pair of seamless bifocals with a price of $478! Bottom line, refund gone, no $250 pledge to PBS. My daughter didn’t really care, but after last year’s concert experience, my hopes were somewhat dashed, but I have fond memories of that show that are still fresh in my mind. April 2 was my birthday, and I wanted to spend it with some friends from Ireland, but I volunteered to sing at our church’s Good Friday service. If I couldn’t hear the girls sweet sounds, then I would make my own joyful noise for plenty of untrained ears to enjoy!
Then last Wednesday I was contacted by a forum member who asked if I was going to either of the shows at the Palace. I couldn’t go Friday because of my prior commitment, and I thought I would be busy Saturday night as well. Having no tickets (as well as no funds) was an issue. By Thursday, I was going to Saturday’s show courtesy of Starman (déjà vu!). Memories of last year’s show flooded my mind: front row seats and possibly Meet & Greet! Friday at work I listened to SFTH four times on my iPod until the battery was nearly drained and I had learned all the words to Galway Bay and Fields of Gold. In the meantime, Friday morning I had problems starting our car (bad ignition coil) and Friday evening after I picked up my wife from work, the transmission in our van overheated, we had 1rst gear only! It was beginning to look like Saturday’s show may not happen for me either.
By the grace of God - as is the norm for everything good that happens to me, I made it downtown Saturday evening with no problems. I had no problem finding a good parking space in the garage, and I was third in line to getting into the Palace. There was an older couple that got into line behind me and we talked for a while. He sounded a bit like the elder George Bush and told me that he had gone to school with Diane Sawyer (evening news anchor for ABC who grew up in Louisville). After about twenty minutes or so, John (Starman) arrived. We caught up with each other since it had been over a year since we had been together. He had a program and picture for me that he had signed by Lisa and Lynn at the Meet & Greet on Friday night. He related to me that Lisa asked him who the Paul was that she was signing for, and she thought that she had met me before……..wow! She knows who I am now.
Front row seats almost identical to the seats we had last year. Checking out the stage everything seemed to be moved up towards the edge of the stage. Máiréad would have to be extra careful flying on the stage!. Ray and Nick’s drum towers seemed to be 10’ above the stage with Nicky’s being a little higher than Ray’s. My seat was directly in front of Tommy Martin which made for lot’s of interaction with him throughout the show.
As usual, the show started about 15 minutes late, and I was instantly transported back to last year’s show. I have to be honest, I really don’t remember the order of the songs, I was too busy watching everything that was going on. I don’t even remember what the first piece was!!! I did thoroughly enjoy each time the girls came out with a hand-held mike and speak to the audience. They all commented on the venue, the Palace Theater, and how much they loved coming to Kentucky and being on the receiving end of a warm Kentucky welcome. Lisa added that the Palace was one of her favorites venues to perform in. I’m sure that she says that about all of the places where they visit and perform, but she definitely had sincerity in her voice. When Chloë walked out and introduced Galway Bay I knew that this song would quickly make it to my favorites list. I had heard Bing Crosby’s version and the pub scene in The Quiet Man with John Wayne and all of the patrons singing along (the barkeeps high voice is a little bit freaky), but Chloë made this song her own. She sang with so much passion and emotion. Being about 15’ from her I watched her face turn red with anger when the phrase “ . . .But the strangers came and tried to teach us their way, and they scorned us just for being what we are . . . “ But then she cooled down and you could feel the warmth in her voice as she finished the song.
Chloë gave me lots of smiles as did Lisa and Máiréad. Lynn and Alex spent more time on the other side of the stage so I didn’t get a lot of attention from them, but I did catch Lynn’s eyes a couple of times. I loved her and the choir doing the a capella rendition of My Lagan Love. It brought back memories of her days with Anuna. I had lot’s of attention from both Lisa and Máiréad., and they got attention from me. There were small fans placed at intervals along the edge of the stage and Lisa spent a lot of time standing in front of the one that was across from John who was seated on my left. There was barely 2’ of space between the band and the edge of the stage directly in front of me, and I thought to myself that surely Máiréad wouldn’t attempt anything there. After 4 years you would think I had known better. She flew past several times, and I thought Des would come out of his seats a couple of times. Des is so laid back, I haven’t seen him move so fast! Towards the end of the show and You Raise Me Up,“ Máiréad stood directly across from me, and her dress was blowing in the breeze produced by the fan. There was a long thread coming off her dress, hopefully Allison with wardrobe will be able to take care of that. Máiréad was really working the audience and we were under her control. There was a man seated on the other side of John who really wasn’t getting into the show as much as the rest of us were. Máiréad noticed this as well and as she flew past him she looked at him and said, “Clap!” He did!
There was a man seated on the front row about 6 seats to my left, and it sure looked to me like he was attempting to record some of the show via his cell phone. I saw him place it on the stage even! Evidently his actions caught the attention of the ushers on both ends of the pit section as they kept an eye on him for most of the second half of the show. I even saw Lisa look at him and give what I thought to be a very ugly look.
There where so many memorable moments for me, I don’t think I could list them all. I can’t count the number of times that Lisa and Máiréad looked at me and smiled. Lisa genuinely appreciates you when you are singing along with her. Tommy Martin was really fun to watch. He did an excellent job on the Uilleann pipes and I was amazed at his expertise on the instrument. He could tell from the way I was watching him play the pipes, whistles and flutes, that I was enjoying his playing, and he said thanks every time I acknowledged his talent. As John mentions in his review about holding up the Slimy sign, I think Tommy got a bigger kick out of that than Nicky. In fact, I thought that he was going to lose it because it took a few moments for him to collect himself after seeing it. He had a grin on his face for quite a while!
I think that the personal highlight of the show came for me at the very end when all of the girls were saying “Goodnight” to the audience. Lisa looked right at me and blew the first of 3 kisses. She could have picked anyone, I suppose, but she started with me! I posted that on my face book and several friends from church the next morning were looking for lipstick on my cheek!!! Now that would have been a very nice trick indeed, lipstick on my cheek from a kiss blown from 6” away!
Off to the Meet & Greet we were after the show was over. Mitch had us get in a group and he checked everyone’s pass and wrote down our names. I was curious as to who we would see at the Meet & Greet and I was instantly disappointed when I realized that it would not be Lisa or Lynn since they were at the one the previous night. I mentally slapped myself for being disappointed, because I would still be seeing either Máiréad, Alex or Chloë. I had not met Alex, but I had Máiréad and Chloë. It would be awesome no matter who would be there. We walked up the stairs where the Meet & Greet was to be held and were kept in suspense for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only about 10 minutes. Claire finally told us that we would be meeting Alex and Máiréad. An instant grin came to my face, a chance for me to show my support to Alex. The line moved quickly as the buses and trucks were already loading for the trip to Grand Rapids (more on that in a moment). I wish I could have spent more time with Máiréad, but being about halfway in the line, we were moved along rather briskly. There was a rather large security guard keeping an eye out for any odd behavior, and I think he had everyone intimidated! After I had my program and pictures signed and had gathered my things I was directed back down the stairs where I waited for John. John is a master of Meet & Greets and has himself positioned at the end of the line so he can spend more time with the girls. When he came downstairs we stood for a couple of minutes and talked with some other folks there and then out came Alex and Máiréad from the elevator. One last chance to say goodnight and goodbye. They both waved to John and me and Máiréad actually said “Good night, Paul!” Wow. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
As I was leaving the parking garage (folks were still just driving out), I was the last car out. There was about a half dozen cars waiting to get onto 5th Street, but there was a couple of 53’ tractor trailers sitting at the light. These were the equipment trailers for the Songs From The Heart tour, of course. I managed to snap a couple of very horrible pictures from my cell phone as I followed the trucks to 3rd Street and there were the tour busses as well. Very fuzzy pictures from a wonderful, brilliant night of great memories.
“Good night, Máiréad!”
