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Author Topic: Review: San Antonio May 10th  (Read 2246 times)
Scott
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« on: May 11, 2015, 04:07PM »

I never saw Deirdre or Hayley perform with Celtic Woman.  Deirdre was just before my time, and during Hayley's 2007 tour all of my shows were Meav shows.  Of the other ten soloists, every single one of them has done something endearing to me, either from the stage or when I was with them personally, before or after shows.  Every one of these ladies has had some share in making Celtic Woman special to me.   The soloists have been the decisive reason that many of the close fans, myself included, have stayed as fans.  But starting in late 2013, I felt like a spark was missing.  No matter how great the shows themselves were, it didn't quite feel the same.  A large part of this was due to the two successive personnel changes, with Chloe and then Lisa Lambe not being at my shows anymore.  Those two departures hit me hard.  Even Mairead Carlin trying her hardest, bless her heart, couldn't completely ameliorate my feeling that something was missing.  In some ways, attending the Lisa Kelly shows in Peachtree had just enhanced this feeling, since in those performances the magic of old was on full display.  Sure, there was still much to enjoy about Celtic Woman shows, and there was still a thrill that comes with being amongst something that had been such a huge part of me for so long.  And there was the expectation of seeing some of my dear fan friends again.  So, in this spirit, and after my longest drought ever from Celtic Woman shows - almost 13 months - the time had finally come for me to experience the CW10 Tour which everyone had been raving about.  I would be experiencing this show in my favorite major city: San Antonio, Texas.  It would be at one of my favorite venues: the Majestic Theater, site of several incredible experiences with friends in years past.  And... today was the day that I fell in love with Celtic Woman all over again.

My plan had been dictated by the shape of the schedule.  Traveling to the northeast for shows was not feasible this year, so my shows would need to be local until summer.  San Antonio would be on Mother's Day afternoon, 3pm.  I added Austin as well for the following Wednesday, and of course Red Rocks in June.  For San Antonio I would be with Lester, his grandson Logan, Edd, and Hubert - all of whom I had been at shows with in times past.  Lester, Logan, and I would be riding out to San Anton together.

Lester arrived to get me before 8:30am.  We passed the three hour ride talking about all periods of Celtic Woman, from beginnings to the present, and he gave me a general idea of how the show the previous night in Houston had gone.  This time we parked in the garage behind the venue, which ended up making our day incredibly easier.  We arrived in town with plenty of time to spare for our arranged meeting for lunch with Edd and Hubert.  We ate again at the Market On Houston restaurant across from the venue, which had been radically changed since our group had dined there two years ago; strangely, they served breakfast - and only breakfast - all day long now.  When the time came, we got into line to enter the venue.

The Majestic Theater is one of the grand ol' theaters of America.  The lobby is lovely in a Southwest kind of way, with a Spanish Mission motif that you would expect from a place situated a mere four blocks from The Alamo; the lobby is made even nicer having choir girls Edel and Sarah selling programs.  The theater itself is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, with the beautiful fake-sky ceiling of the Fox Theater in Atlanta carried to perfection and the ornate decorations you would see in the Wang Theater in Boston.  The balcony extends far out, goes far back, and rises at an extremely steep angle making even the back seats in the balcony feasible for viewing the stage.  The stage is about average to maybe slightly less than average height, but suitably wide and very deep.  The front pit row is far enough from the stage to permit movement along the front.  I made my way to the merchandise table to see the special, limited-edition Texas t-shirts that were for sale.  We also went up to the balcony to get a bird's-eye view, just like we had done here two years prior.  After that we made our way down to our seats; I was in row C, about 10 seats over to the piano-side.  In the first half there were several empty seats in front of me, which made viewing easier.

One side not for those keeping score along the way on this tour: the announcement is still "No FLASH photography" (my emphasis).

Oh, that's right... "The Sky And the Dawn And the Sun" opens this show, I had almost forgotten; and wow has it really been almost five years since I had last seen Alex perform???  No question, having her back on board makes for a different and excellent harmony for the group, something they hadn't had really since she left; anyway, I gave them a standing ovation... "Newgrange" was beautiful, a different interpretation from last year's Mairead Carlin version, closer to Orla's version; somehow the drum parts seemed softer than in any previous incarnation of this song... the touch that I liked best in "The Butterfly" is when Mairead gives each bandmember a segment to perform solo; however, my standing O for this song was for her most of all... "Si Do Mhaimeo" has been better and better each time that I've seen it since I first viewed it last year, which, with all the personnel changes along the way, is incredible... For "Teir Abhaile Riu" Susan and Alex made for some of the most hilarious expressions you'll ever see as they vie for attention; Hubert narrowly missed an aisle dalliance with Susan which might have been possible if he had worn a hat like the gentleman who did receive such dalliance.  On a different note, during that song, at one of the moments when Susan was singing and looking right down into the front-row audience with a huge smile, I reflected for a moment on the maturation of Susan McFadden from her first year when she didn't interact with any audience compared to the polished singer that she had become.  I smiled and sighed.

The crowd was dead on arrival, so far.  A scattered fan community can only do so much to get a crowd going; but I knew we had an "ace in the hole" tucked into the second-act setlist that might help.  Anyway, matinee shows tend to be this way (but not always!).  I couldn't figure out why, but the sound didn't seem to be quite right, although others at intermission indicated they liked the sound.  During the intermission, I had unexpected meetings with Mark Sidepocket and Dee, and was glad to talk to both of them.

For only the second time ever, my seat upgrade failed.  All five of us would have been front-row band-side together.  I'll just say that you can't win them all... Nice way to start the second half, with "Orinoco Flow!!"... not surprisingly, with the first strains of "Amazing Grace," the crowd came to life and roared it's approval; although not as dramatically as two years ago here, the crowd applauded Anthony as he made his way onto the stage, and the standing ovation by the entire house at the end of the song was by far the high point of this show so far, soon to be followed by another standing ovation by various patrons at the end of an inspired "Granuaile's Dance"... Ray's schtick during his bodhran solo, as always, is intensely funny; the choir remained on stage during the frolic instead of dancing in the audience, but "Nil Se'n La" was again an energizing and fun time... Wow, they revived "Over the Rainbow???"  Maybe it's good that I have avoided looking too much at the reviews before this; fine rendition, and some of the crowd gave happy gasps of recognition... "Mo Ghile Mear" brought a blast from the past: as Lynn moved aside for Alex early in the song, the spotlight missed Alex and was too low; recalling so many shows from the Isle of Hope Tour, I just shook my head and stifled a chuckle that some things just never change for that poor girl... speaking of Alex, who told her about my favorite line in "You Raise Me Up"??  While she sang that line she looked right at me, not turning away until she was done; it had to be a coincidence, right?  Anway, there was a full-blown standing ovation followed by about thirty seconds of boisterous cheering during which the crowd just would not let Mairead introduce "The Parting Glass"; she was clearly moved by the crowd which was now as lively as any crowd you'll ever see... the encore was a true encore this time, as everyone (including me) was howling and screaming as Anthony came back out; someday, I'd really like them to record this piece, it does have it's merits and I enjoyed it a lot tonight... again, before the Ceili reprise, Mairead couldn't begin because the crowd was too enthusiastic; yet another example of how once you wind 'em up, you can't shut 'em off haha.

We made our way outside.  The layout of the Majestic Theater has the buses and trucks parked along the back of the theater, along a city sidewalk near the stage door.  The crew loaded the trucks, with cast members slipping out between cartloads to get to the buses.  Sarah and Edel, then one by one Susan, Lynn, and Alex all gave at least one photo opportunity along the way.  They were escorted along by a tour rep, as I had expected.  I hung back slightly; I've already had an occasion or more with all of them, whereas Hubert and Edd and Logan haven't had some of the opportunities that I've had in times past, so I wanted this to be for them.  I did assist with taking pictures where needed, and I got a parting smile from Susan.

Finally Mairead Nesbitt came out, with one of the venue staffers, not a tour rep.  By chance, I was in the furthest position from the stage door.  Mairead stopped with each of my friends, shaking their hands and bantering with them for a minute.  Then she turned to me.  She smiled, let go of her rollaway case, and opened her arms to me, mouthing "Scott."  I said "Oh, Mairead!" as I hugged her.  I'm amazed that I didn't start sobbing; I settled for: "After all these years, you're still here."  I remembered to tell her that I'd see her again at Austin and Red Rocks.  She made sure Edd got a picture of her and I together, and I appreciated it, but the photo hadn't been the most important thing to me.  That hug she gave me was without question the most important moment I've ever had with any of the girls, ever.  Not only had I needed it, I hadn't realized how much I needed it until I got it.  It had been such a small thing, but the gesture reminded me of how much Celtic Woman means to me; sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most.  I knew that as long as Mairead Nesbitt is with this group, a link will run through all my shows, connecting my earliest shows, back in another life altogether, to my most recent.  As she waved and headed toward her bus, I realized that I had met her long before I had met any of these fan friends that I was with that day in San Antonio.  Like I had said to her... after all these years, she was still there.

Edd had to head back to Mexico, so he said his goodbyes til next year.  Hubert, Lester, Logan, and I went along the Riverwalk to find a place to eat; just like two years ago, almost comically, all paths led to PizzaRita's.  We talked about shows past and present and I didn't talk much about our "Street & Greet" except to tell Logan that his picture with Lynn is special.  We headed back to the parking garage and shook hands with Hubert.  Logan, Lester, and I made the long ride back to the Houston area, with Lester and I finding plenty to talk about while Logan slept in the back seat.  Lester dropped me off before 11:30pm, but it would be a short time before we'd be together again, for the Austin show on Wednesday.

In a review a long time ago, I made an observation: the magic of Celtic Woman touches you, when you expect it the least but when you need it the most.  Never had that been more true for me than on this day.




« Last Edit: May 11, 2015, 11:52PM by Scott » Logged

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« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2015, 05:56PM »

   Thank  you  for  this  awesome  accounting  Scott.  Smiley
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rfcw
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Alex Lynn as next guest DVD, Susan LL next Castle


« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2015, 07:22PM »

To anyone who's Ever experienced a Celtic Woman Live if this 1 be first or second ever show
I would hope that the thrill, excitement, chill, believable emotion & awws among extravagance of the show would  
be my wish for their experience without focusing on which member isn't there and who's in. They would however not be aware
of the exhilaration breath-taking teary power of live suspenses which what the rest of earlier attendees of concerts had from any of the original members
especially with the first group Orla, Meav, Lisa K & Chloe of course! Not to say that Hayley, Lynn or Alex wouldn't captivate as well if us attended around 2006 or 2009 they would too.

The missing out of iconic enchantment of Chloe and soul loving connected Lisa Kelly are 2 which I would say captivated one of the Best Spotlights Amongst a real Celtic Woman experience.

It has been a really long time since sopranic songbird Meav departed but add her to #3 along by the real haunt beautify of Orla.
Unless you've come to be a sensational fan of Susan, Mairead Carlin, or much deep fan of Alex Sharpe and Lynn Hilary,
I am always still moved and breath taken by watching and seeing Lynn upon my eyes real in person, this must been my 4th time seeing Lynn, although
her status as a true favorite of mine, made the show true to it's original, even if the other four were more a sensation to be.
Alex would I find very emotional and connective to the audience, her smiles are decadent to remind you that she is a former member of her own as well.
Lisa Lambe is another, yet I only got her once in her beginnings on the SFTH tour.
If you've ever Dreamed of seeing Susan, Mairead Carlin you will achieve that Celtic Woman experience we all know to be and
if you love Alex & Lynn also, then you have 1 show of present and former charms Tongue
Mairead Nesbitt has always been there so the fiddler Mairead suspenses is unchanged Cheesy Grin
« Last Edit: May 11, 2015, 07:26PM by RealFan c-w » Logged

Down the winding road where my Caranua\'s/CW GEMS are!<br /><br /><br />[img]https://thumb.ibb.co/d0ovKv/FB_IMG_15025
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