I'll be home for Celtic Christmas - Pittsburgh Xmas show 2011

[Cash]

I’ll Be Home for Celtic Christmas

Celtic Woman with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
 Heinz Hall Pittsburgh - December 11, 2011

   It all started back in March. While attending the regular yearly Celtic Woman concert here every March, a man came out to make an announcement just before the show started. He said that “Celtic Woman will be here in 2011” and I thought DUH yeah they are here right now, then he continued “again for a Christmas concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony”. My jaw dropped but my heart raced with excitement. A very special Christmas concert coming here and I won’t have to travel for it, like I had to for Orla’s Nashville Christmas . I quickly got out a pen and paper as he gave details and the ticket pre-sale code.
   Time passed and the day came for pre-sales. I am on dial up and aol. That’s not good for quick access to computer web pages that sell tickets. I had a LOT of trouble and eventually I ended up with a row B left and a row D left seat. I tried getting 2 together but I would have needed to buy row z. 
   More time passed. Tickets went on sale to the regular public so I looked to see if better seats were available. I was able to get 2 together in row B, just a bit to the right of my other  row B seat. Now why weren’t these tickets available when I first inquired about buying? One of those strange things that can happen with ticket buying. I would eventually sell my extra seats to Annie, another big time Celtic Woman fan.
   As the day of the concert approached, I had hoped to do something special . Our  fan forum had some big plans involving the show. In fact, we had at least a dozen people there, coming in from places like Boston, Louisville, and even Colorado. I couldn’t do signs. I think the Heinz Hall staff would skin me alive if I held up signs at the Symphony. So I did some personalized cards. I had  Congrats / Good Luck cards for Lisa K (pregnant) and Mairead (just married) . I also had Merry Christmas / Happy New Year cards for Lil Lambe, Chloe, and music director / pianist David Downes. 
   Each had a custom front tailored to the individual, but the backs were all the same, a pic of Pittsburgh and a poem I wrote for the event. Yes I wrote a poem. Edgar Allen Poe might be spinning in his grave, and if Maya Angelo reads or hears it, she might drop over. But it is what it is, and the last line said “Thank you. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year”. Its always good to say those things. Can’t go wrong with that message.  And if nothing else, maybe it gave people a good laugh.
   All of us “groupies” met up just before 5pm for the traditional pre-concert meal and fan gathering. The location - The Braddock in the lobby of Pittsburgh’s Renaissance  Hotel. This seemed to be an ideal spot. Many of those who came in from out of town stayed at that hotel.  Its only a block north of Heinz Hall. It has a city parking garage across the street and since the city offers free weekend parking in December, that helped those who drove in. But this place ended up leaving a bit to be desired. I talked to them about reservations and a manager was supposed to contact me, then didn.t. When he finally did leave a message on my machine, I tried repeatedly to call him back, but kept getting voice mail. The place was just in general too dark. The waiter was at times a bit…snippy? The food was too expensive.
   A few notable things did happen there. The group congratulated Mike Brown on attending his 100th Celtic Woman concert. Two people told their interesting story about how they saw the vocalists waiting for an elevator in Heinz Hall when they took gifts for them inside. Someone said something to me about being on a crowd shot on the Believe DVD. I hadn’t spotted myself on that song yet, but I had spotted myself 2 and a half times on other songs. ‘Half’ you ask? Yes you can see the right side of my face and my suit & tie, but the rest of my face is eclipsed by the woman sitting in front of me. And the group signed my custom cards.
   After paying my check, I took off a bit ahead of the group to get to Heinz Hall as quick as I could. I had contacted The Symphony in advance and asked if I could get a table in the lobby to sit at in a very visible place and recruit signatures. The idea was to make Pittsburgh look good by showing a lot of love for the group. I am sure that many people send them cards and gifts, but not custom cards signed by a lot of people attending the show. This didn’t work out well. The Symphony did not want to actively and officially participate, though did not specifically order me not to proceed. But I can think of a number of good reasons that they would be careful with this sort of thing. I expected their response.
   So I went early and  tried to get one of those tables over in the right hand side but they were all gone by the time I got there. Many people entered right when the doors opened. People were everywhere! They had a big tree set up where those tables usually sit, and they pushed the tables to the sides which made it all crowded. I really needed a table to display them and have something for people to write on to sign. So I went downstairs near the restrooms. In that hall way there are tables with lamps. I sat in a chair next to one and displayed the cards there. No one even blinked an eye at them. The trouble with that location - everyone who went by had something else on their mind, quick relief of their…ah…business…before the show.  And I am not a salesman and my lack of such skills showed on this project.
   So in the end, I had only maybe 20 signatures. And I was lucky to get those. My forum friends were good enough to sign, even though they had already given gifts and possibly cards too earlier in the day. So thank you all for helping out.
   So then I bought a program and headed to my seat. It feels thinner than previous programs. Yet there are some very nice pictures in it. The set list is in order and for the most part accurate, though there was one substitute song for Lil’ Lambe and they didn’t do Spanish Lady at the end as the set list would imply. Let It Snow was the last song.
   I headed to my seat, second row left, and I mean FAR left. As far as one can go. This was good and bad. I figured that at some point I would have Mairead right in front of me. In every show, she seems to make one or two trips to the extreme edges of the stage to give those people a little attention and a look at her. And she did not disappoint. I got a little eye contact with her. But of course when she was at the far end, I didn’t have much view of her. Plus David was in his usual position on piano on the left, which put him in front of me, well actually to my right since I was so far over. Also, since the second row extended longer than the first row, I was sort of front row, in substance, because no one sat in front of me.

[Cash]

   Some things to note about the stage and symphony set up. it’s a small stage and the Symphony members take up a lot of the back area , so I figured in advance that we would see the ladies right up at the front edge of the stage. But they had those speakers or lights, or whatever they are, lined up in a straight row on stage. This kept the girls back a bit from the edge. The Symphony itself seemed to have fewer members than usual  in attendance. Maybe half of a usual Symphony concert. The regular Concert Master was not there, The Associate Concert Master served that role. And the scheduled conductor wasn’t there. David Downes announced the conductor as someone that he has known for a long time.  Its too bad Lawrence Loh didn’t conduct. He was there for Idina Menzel’s concert and he is a funny guy. He will joke a bit and isn’t as stiff as other conductors. Yet he doesn’t over do it. He seems to know how to strike a good balance.
   So the concert started with the PSO doing a song that I didn’t recognize. (the second act started the same way, with one PSO song then out come the girls) Then its Celtic Woman time! Lisa K was on the far left on the first song so she was the one closest to me. She seemed especially happy and energetic. WAY more than her usual happy smiling self.  She was having a lot of fun. She also interacted a LOT with the crowd all night. She interacted a LOT with the 2 who saw them earlier at the Heinz Hall elevators and they happened to be sitting just to my right. Lisa K was even sort of dancing / swaying as they did. Talk about your crowd interaction! I did get a couple looks from her too.  Lil Lambe and Chloe  seemed to be positioned more center or to the other side of the stage most of the night. I did notice Chloe glanced over toward my way, but not sure who she was looking at. From what I have seen she mostly interacts with the center front. I didn’t notice Lil Lambe look over my way at all, even to see the 2 near me!
   Speaking of the crowd. Pittsburgh did good tonight. We did lapse a bit on one Mairead solo and only a few people stood and clapped at the end of the first half. But in fairness, I think most people just didn’t realize that was the final song of Act I. Plus I have been at many other Pittsburgh concerts, and many more times than not, there’s no standing O at intermission. The Green the Whole Year sing-a-long seemed to go very well. Chloe hit a Grand Slam with Ave Maria and the crowd let her know it. A BIG standing O for Chloe! She keeps bringing the house down like that and local public safety officials will ban her from singing it! A BIG standing O at the end too. Everyone in the house on their feet going wild. Pittsburgh crowds can be tough. I have seen some shows not get standing Os. I have even seen a fair number of people remain seated and not even clap at the end! But Celtic Woman brings the best of us out. How can one not clap for them?
   It was a sell out crowd. I had heard that they were selling standing room only tickets for $50, but I looked around and didn’t see a ‘standing’ section or people along walls. I am not sure where they were. Maybe I heard wrong info. Also, we had at least a dozen ‘groupies’ in attendance and we were all sitting up front on the left. One of the ladies (Lisa K or Chloe) even noted ‘all of them over there‘ (or something to that effect) and pointed.
   So, other than Chloe and Ave Maria, what were the highlights? Hearing Lisa K sing the Christmas Song. She started it almost right in front of me, standing by David at piano, but then for the big high note she had moved more center stage. I was hoping she would hit it while standing right in front of me. But the song rocked! Another cool thing about it. I could hear her voice off mic at one point..
   On Let it Snow, the very last song, they had a special effect. Snow flakes falling! Well  something made to look like snow flakes. Just like on the Christmas DVD. I like fake snow. But leave the real snow in Canada please. But it was a fun effect. And the big band style they employ on this song does make it a lot of fun. Also, on White Christmas Chloe did a little pre-song talk and said something like snow and Christmas go together and how Pittsburgh, unlike California and Florida, their previous locations just before traveling here,, actually gets snow. .  No no no, we will see enough snow in February.
   Green the Whole Year Round really rocked. At first, I didn’t really like the idea of a sing-a-long when they first did it in Atlanta for Believe. . But its really grown on me. Lisa K does a great job with crowd interaction (hey I think I already mentioned that, but no harm done repeating a compliment for Lisa right?). And the crowd went along with it and participated. So it all went well.
   Lil Lambe sang Away in a Manger and did a great job. As many have noted about Believe, she is fitting in very well and really establishing herself with fans.
   All of the group songs went very well. Christmas Pipes really rocked.
   I really enjoyed hearing You Raise Me Up. I couldn’t believe they didn’t sing it in Atlanta for Believe. It was like Lynyrd Skynyrd not singing Freebird or Larry the Cable Guy not saying ’Git-R-Done”.  Gotta love this song and it always rocks when they do it. And Lisa K‘s “You‘ve been such a wonderful audience, thank you“ line is back!
   They did Danny Boy and it’s a bit different now. Mairead wasn’t out there on accompaniment. . David accompanied on piano and the Symphony also participated. That song is still a winner and always fun to hear them sing it. 
   A couple of other things to note. First, I was sort of, I don’t know wound up and excited about the show. Plus it seemed strange to me. I have watched the Christmas DVD so much, and its different with no Orla and Meav, but with a Lil Lambe. Plus Mairead was tethered by the small stage and the nature of a Christmas show. She moved a bit but not her usual energy. Plus the Symphony was up there. That was another difference. It all took me a while to ‘adjust’ to what was happening. It was all a great show. Just a bit different from what we usually see at their concerts. I think my mind has been ‘programmed’ to expect things and when its different, it seems out of place. But that’s me and maybe I am just strange.
   After the show, a number of us groupies stood outside a while and talked. Then we headed over to the stage door to see the ladies leave. But I was getting cold. Too cold. I only wore a suit and didn’t have an additional coat on. I was comfortable traveling to the show, and figured that I might get a little cold on the way home but that would be a fairly quick trip. I did not expect to stand around outside for such an extended time.  So I quickly scooted and headed for home before they came out to get on their bus.
   

[John910]

Good review.

[IloveyouSarahBurke!! <3]

Awesome review!!!!!!!!!  The first thing I noticed was that you mentioned Idina Menzel. <3  I saw her when she did her symphony tour, so that excited me!
And also to hear how much Lisa Kelly was interacting with the audience and how happy she was!!  That makes me even more excited to see the girls tomorrow night.

[Starman]

   Great review MIke!  Your familiarity with the venue and the Pittsburgh philoharmonic made you the ideal author for such a review and you did a great job!

   I want to thank you for obtaining and circulating the greeting cards and for allowing the others and myself present at the pre-show dinner sign them also. 

    Not long after you left the girls came out and got on the bus, escorted by Bubba, who appologized they could not linger, as they had a long drive down to Newport News, VA for the next night's show.

[Cash]

  The first thing I noticed was that you mentioned Idina Menzel. <3  I saw her when she did her symphony tour, so that excited me!

Idina just did a concert recording up in Toronto for PBS back in November. She and her staff are trying to edit and produce the dvd now. I am wondering if we will see her show up on a PBS tour sometime in April or May. Hopefully it will be PBS and we can pledge for good seats and meet & greet. She really does put on a GREAT live show. Great interaction with the crowd. Funny stories. Touching stories. Well worth the price for a ticket. A funny thing though. every time I watched Glee to see her sing, I end up seeing Santana verbally abuse poor Damian of Celtic Thunder!

   Great review MIke!  Your familiarity with the venue and the Pittsburgh philoharmonic made you the ideal author for such a review and you did a great job!

   I want to thank you for obtaining and circulating the greeting cards and for allowing the others and myself present at the pre-show dinner sign them also. 

    Not long after you left the girls came out and got on the bus, escorted by Bubba, who appologized they could not linger, as they had a long drive down to Newport News, VA for the next night's show.

I hope everything worked out for you and the others with the hotels. I never had much need to use local hotels, so I was also learning about prices. I did know a bit about the locations, but missed the one Mariot up the street. If we have a next time on something like this, that may be the ticket.

Thank you all for signing the cards. Annie put them with her stuff that she had for Buffalo and left them with the stage door guy there.

I wanted to stick around longer at the stage door in Pittsburgh but I am a knucklehead! I didn't wear an overcoat and I was getting very cold. <smacks self in head>

[Starman]

I hope everything worked out for you and the others with the hotels. I never had much need to use local hotels, so I was also learning about prices. I did know a bit about the locations, but missed the one Mariot up the street. If we have a next time on something like this, that may be the ticket.

Thank you all for signing the cards. Annie put them with her stuff that she had for Buffalo and left them with the stage door guy there.

I wanted to stick around longer at the stage door in Pittsburgh but I am a knucklehead! I didn't wear an overcoat and I was getting very cold. <smacks self in head>
[/quote]

   My willingness to walk about 4 blocks from the Wyndam saved me about $150.00 over the cost of staying at the Renaissance. I had on my trusty Fiddler Crossing jacket to keep me warm!    I wish I had stayed with Thomas and Ann-Marie after the show, as they got a pic with David Downes when he came out to get on the bus!