A near-sell-out crowd was on hand Sunday night October 2, 2011 to see Órla Fallon and backup band Tin Cup Gypsy at the Renaissance Auditorium at the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton Ohio. In a fantastic stroke of luck for me, Barb (Barbeaver) had contacted me in mid-August, telling me that her sister Sandy would be unable to attend the show and asked if I would be interested in her ticket, which was front row center. She and Sandy had seen me at the Columbus show and knew in all likelihood that I would. I could not hit the “reply” button fast enough to indicate to her I certainly was interested! Then, I forgot to pay her for the ticket when I saw her in Atlanta for the Celtic Woman Believe DVD filming! She graciously allowed me to pay her when I came to Dayton on Sunday evening!
That Sunday evening we met for a pre-show dinner in downtown Dayton. Barb had driven from Columbus, I from Lexington, KY. I had not actually stopped in Dayton since years earlier when after law school, I had interviewed with the Deputy Base Commander for an Air Force Judge Advocate (JAG) General’s commission at Wright-Patterson AFB (didn’t get it). Neither did I get a tour of Hangar 18 where the alien bodies from Roswell were allegedly taken. I had probably been as likely to get the latter as the former.
After an enjoyable meal, we headed over to the Dayton Art Institute, across the river about a mile away.
Parked outside was a bus and an equipment trailer, both of which I was pretty certain were connected with the show. The driver, it turned out, was helping out at the concession stand. Out of Nashville, he said the trailer was of the type Órla had toured in with Celtic Woman. He sold me a Tin Cup Gypsy photo and their CD entitled Calico, both of which I was fortunate enough to get autographed by them there that night. Cassandra Lawson of Tin Cup Gypsy came by—wearing her hair up tonight! I bought a couple more Órla CDs which I hoped to get autographed for friends, she having been kind enough to autograph multiple copies for me at earlier shows.
On the way into the auditorium there were many interesting art and photo displays, many depicting Dayton and the institute in the early days. Interesting to hopefully be able to see another day! Down the stairs we went, where I was delighted to see we were dead-center front row, directly in front of Órla! Seated beside us were a couple from Marion, Ohio, Mike and Janet, whom we had seen at the Órla’s Columbus show and at the Atlanta DVD filming last month. I had also sat beside them on the front row of the Cincinnati Celtic Woman show in April. Clearly, major Órla and Celtic Woman fans!
As show time neared, the auditorium filled up and excitement grew. I knew that Amberly Rosen, the delightful and energetic young fiddler who had been with Órla since the Statesville, NC show would be back, having been absent from the August shows. She explained to me after the show that a summer employment commitment had not allowed her to take off for those two shows in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but she was back with the tour now. She certainly was missed by any who had seen her earlier!
Tin Cup Gypsy takes the stage after housekeeping announcements are made. Jonathon Lawson introduces each member to the crowd: he and lovely wife Cassandra, Jordan Lawson and percussionist Tyler Oban . Many seem to be already familiar with them and no repeated urging is needed to get the crowd to clap along with the first song, Ain’t That Peculiar. The audience obviously likes them. Other songs from their Calico CD performed included She Just Is (which I predict Cassandra will, inwardly at least, grow tired of by the end of the tour), To the Sea and Chase the Sun. The crowd knows that they are “for real” by now, if they didn’t already!
Their solo set finished, there is palpable excitement knowing that Órla is coming soon! First out comes musical director Dan Shea, followed by fiddler Amberly Rosen and then Órla, looking lovely in a black dress with blue trim! Órla introduces all the cast. Husband and wife Jonathon and Cassandra Lawson she introduces as our couple with “Hollywood looks”—and they are!
As they open with Mo Ghile Mear, it is clear that the audience is familiar with it, as they sing along! Acoustics in the auditorium are good. My Land follows (with Ohioan Jim Brickman nowhere to be found—it’s not his arrangement) without choir, but with fine backup by TCG and—I believe, Amberly too.
Next came “Two Sisters” which, Órla explains, is about two sisters fighting over a man name John. Eyeing me, Órla says, “I see we have one John here on the front row, do we have any others?” Almost directly behind me is another lucky John and we enjoy this song which she says is dedicated to us! But somehow, I’d bet those sisters are probably more interested in fighting with each other than for me!
Following was Ah Mhighdean Mhara (spelling not guaranteed), Morning Has Broken (a la a waltz and not Cat Stevens, as Órla tells us), Eleanor Plunkett, the charming instrumental from Distant Shore, Trip to Shanbally, Michael O’Dwyer’s, Spanish Lady (which the crowd knew and sang along) and surprisingly, The Tennessee Waltz. From this one it is easy to hear that Órla can fit seamlessly into any country music song.
Órla closed the first half with a song from her Christmas DVD, Soul Cake (formally called A’Soalin), popularized in the 1960’s by folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. It personally reminded me of news accounts of the passing a year or two ago of Louisvillian Mary Travers. I see from looking up the history of the song that it was traditionally a Halloween song, not out-of-season at all! Anyway, it’s a romping good song with which to lead to intermission!
At intermission we head to the lobby, as we were told Tin Cup Gypsy would sign autographs and that Órla would do so after the show. Barb and I attempted to get good photographs with all of them, but with the crowd of people, getting a good shot without other assorted heads and limps encroaching was difficult. Many copies of their CD Calico were sold along with other items, including jewelry and other artwork made by Cassandra.
Finding our way back to our seats at the end of intermission, I chatted briefly with Dan Shea. I had previously expressed my great admiration for his composition Christmas Bells on Órla’s DVD/CD Celtic Christmas and CD Winter, Fire and Storm. It sounded tailor-made for the soundtrack (perhaps title track) of a major Christmas movie. A Disney movie perhaps? Dan said he had done tracks for Disney productions before and thought that might be appropriate. I asked if I might suggest to Disney to consider Christmas Bells for a movie soundtrack and he said he had not objections. I’d love nothing more if the song, as recorded by Órla graced the soundtrack of a major Christmas movie!
The second half opened with Down To the River to Pray, from My Land, which has now been incorporated in an O Brother Where Art Thou medley, made possible now with the addition of Tin Cup Gypsy, with Jonathan sing lead in Man of Constant Sorrow. When the lines “from old Kentucky, where I was born and raised” are sung by Jonathan, Tom Troxil is not there to point at me as he did in Cleveland—but never fear—Barb does! I don’t think anybody noticed, though. For I’ll Fly Away great background harmonies are provided by Cassandra and Amberly principally. It works very nicely and goes over wonderfully with the crowd. Fellow Kentuckian and star of the movie, George Clooney, would be proud!
The performance of Both Sides now, a song popularized by Joni Mitchell, was particularly memorable for me this time. Aware from past shows how meaningful the song had been to Órla, for her birthday this year the membership of fan site Órla’s Garden gave her sheet music for the song autographed by Joni herself. It was presented to her by fan site leaders Kelli and Zee at the Pittsburgh show. She expressed her appreciation to us in a post there. In that way, we gave back to her a bit of the joy she has given us with the song.
Two wonderful songs from Distant Shore followed: Dancing in the Moonlight-the tale of young love recalled and Simple Love—the tale of grandfatherly love that Órla told us, inspired her own recording in her recollections of the love of her own grandfather. Very moving numbers both and wisely included in the show.
Red is the Rose, from My Land, follows and is lovely when performed with Tin Cup Gypsy, as opposed to Irish singer Tommy Fleming on the CD/DVD, though no less movingly done here live with Jonathan singing the male counterpart.
Ni Na La is next. Órla related the tale of filming at the Pub in Derry and hoping to get a sing-along from the crowd therein, but of their being more interested in dancing than singing. “So John, let’s have some dancing in this one” she said, looking at me! I shook my head, laughingly declining. However at the end of the song she looked at me and laughingly asked, “Where was the dance?” Not that I didn’t think about it...but no!
Órla’s always-haunting rendition of Isle of Inisfree was next, Órla relating the thoroughly improbable authorship of this great song by Irish policeman Dick Farrelly and it’s inclusion in the movie The Quiet Man, a favorite movie of Órla which she has now forever renounced for the sake of marital bliss with her spouse John, no longer enamored of the John Wayne movie (or no longer pretending to be). LOL, a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps. It was beautifully performed and by now her audiences want and expect this number from her.
The sing-along I’ll Tell Me Ma is next and the crowd tonight needs no urging. In fact for some, they might do well to refrain from the refrain. For the most part, though it was a rousing good sing and a great way to end the show on an upbeat note…but the crowd had other ideas! We would not leave with an encore! After a while, back out they came, to the great delight of the crowd! I believe the song was called The Parting Glass, but I’m not sure. After a wonderful performance, the crowd begrudgingly lets them leave, though it was obvious many were weighing the odds of getting a second encore!
Following the show, Órla patiently greeted each of the audience who remained and wanted to meet her (virtually everybody), have photos made with her and autographs. While she did so, Barb and I went over to visit with Amberly and Tin Cup Gypsy. I told Amberly she was missed from the Cleveland show. I reintroduced myself to her and reminded her how I had first met her in Statesville, NC in December, her first public appearance with Órla. We talked for a while and she graciously posed for pictures with us.
Then we migrated over to talk with Tin Cup Gypsy, all of whom were likewise enaged with fans. I reintroduced myself to them. Cassandra said something about my being “a legend on the bus”, which, though flattered, I was afraid to ask what that meant. Barb and I snapped away, but I had my perpetual problem of slow recharge of the flash. Barb graciously took a photo of me with Dan Shea.
The long line of fans now having been accommodated, Órla made her way over to us. After exchanging hugs, she conversed with Barb and I for a long time, every second a joy for me, of course. She complimented me on my shirt and tie (colors of the Irish flag). She said she thought of me as she was driving up through Kentucky and said she would love to sing Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home” at the Kentucky Derby. Many may recall that he is the author of “Hard Times” from her Distant Shore album. I reminded her of a thread on the old Órla forum wherein we were plotting ways to get her to the Kentucky Derby, possibly as a guest of Zee, who frequently goes. We really ought to renew that effort! I relayed “hellos” from us here by as many names as I could quickly rattle off, including Tom Troxil whom she knows from Cleveland and from my church friend Jan who plays the harp and is now a tremendous Órla fan. She mentioned to me that she would be seeing Jenny and Brian Fedei in Erie. Jenny, of course, ran Órla’s fan pages for a while and is her good friend.
Órla laughed at talk of being nominated “Queen of the World” in my thread on the Celtic Woman forum here. She didn’t really say she wouldn’t serve, so we’d better to get to work on that! She autographed a Christmas CD for my daughter and asked about her. Once last hug and she and Barb talked at length. I’ll certainly treasure her time she allotted to me and I’m sure Barb does as well.
As we left, Barb and I separated our now-autographed treasures. I thanked Barb for what had been for me the most wonderful Órla show ever! Once home, we have exchanged photos, some of which are posted below.
By all means catch an Órla show this tour, as the tour now finishes up in the northeast and heads west. Remember, the pattern of perpetual touring we’ve had with Celtic Woman need not be the pattern of Órla Fallon, solo artist—don’t take for granted that she will soon be back to your area—go see her now! You will never regret seeing the show put together by this wonderful artist and whom fans now know to be an even more wonderful person!
Órla & cast following the show:
Órla & Barb:
Post-show of me with fiddler Amberly Rosen:
Barb with Amberly:
And last but not least, Órla and I:
