Part I: Akron, OH
I had the good fortune to attend two Celtic Woman performances of Songs From the Heart on April 1 in Akron and April 2 in Youngstown, Ohio. For me it was my third and fourth shows of the season, having attended the two Atlanta shows in February. I had, of course, been eager to see them again, as the tour swung closer to me. I set out from Lexington eager to try out my new Tom Tom GPS, which I had purchased for myself for Christmas after numerous gift hints to relatives the last two years had gone unheeded. It worked perfectly the whole trip, unchallenged until the last turn command into the Akron City Centre Hotel which I could not obey because the street was blocked off to accommodate one of the Celtic Woman buses! It recalculated and after a few maneuvers, I was in the hotel parking garage.
The hotel was just down the street from the theatre where the show would be held. Good friend Tom Troxall (Thomas on the forum) had gotten reservations for a forum dinner at The Barley House, about a block down from the theatre for members of the Mairead and Celtic Woman fan forums who could join us, about 15 people in all, including Robin Carron from WVIZ in Cleveland, one of the sponsoring PBS stations for the show.
As we were waiting to be seated we saw Anthony Byrne, sans bagpipes and kilt, come in with another fellow to eat. With their smaller company of two, they were seated right away. We were ushered to combined tables a bit later. The wait on the checks almost put us late for the show, but a quick dash to the hotel to change and we were at the theatre on time to be seated, most of us on the front row center seats behind the orchestra pit. Many forum members right behind us through about the fourth row--enough of a presence to lead many standing ovations which penetrated to various depths of the audience, following the familiar pattern of increasing after intermission and involving the whole house by the end of the show.
We were equipped with signs supplied by our sign-coordinator deluxe, Tom Troxall. I was assigned the task of being the “official counter of spins” done by Mairead during The Coast of Galacia (she did an amazing 10, seemingly no worse for the wear!). LL signs are distributed as a salute to newest member, the delightful Lisa Lambe. These are to be displayed primarily in songs in which she is featured, most notably My Lagan Love and Dulaman. I wonder if an “Eat at The Barley House” sign would have gotten me a free meal…
Chloe welcomes the audience, telling them it’s good to be back in Akron since the show in 2009 (then at the E. J. Thomas Hall) and is their 21st appearance in Ohio as Celtic Woman. The crowd, near capacity, is very enthusiastic and as always, she charms them all.
The intensity of the performance they give always amazes me. And as I saw the succeeding night in Youngstown, there seems never to be a let-down in effort—giving their all each night. I have seen them on days when they have already given a matinee performance and still offer no less of an energetic performance to the audience—and it’s true of every one of them! How refreshing, as compared with rock concerts I have attended where the performers acted like they didn’t know where they were and couldn’t wait to get through the set and get out of there.
It was thrilling for me to watch Lisa Kelly prepare herself for an all-out performance of The Moon’s a Harsh Mistress. She’s able to center and recompose herself in an instant! She certainly gave it 100%, both mentally and physically—a true professional! Mairead’s amazing moves and energy were in top form—a bow shredded --and Tom without his “Take it easy on that Bow” sign! Chloe in Galway Bay with the wonderful pipe accompaniment and on There Can be Miracles. Lisa Lambe, looking radiantly beautiful and at greater ease in her numbers—at top form in Dulaman and adeptly “spooning it up” on Ray’s shoulder. She sees our LL signs and seems to be pleased with them. I check mine carefully to make sure it’s not upside down.
Who’d have thought Mairead capable of sending a strapping lad like Ray flying with a bump! But she did and how! I figure she has taken bump lessons from reigning “bump champion” Chloe (
http://www.celticwomanforum.com/index.php?topic=4832.0). Ray seems surprised! He got the same the next night in Youngstown. Lisa Kelly delivers a bump of her own to Andy during At the Ceili—and I really don’t believe he was expecting it!
The choir looks and sounds wonderful! Not a misstep from our lovely new choir members, who are growing on us, as we still miss those departed from the group. The guys are fully in their element—Dermot having introduced in At the Ceili clever new ways to express the disappointment of a rich man scorned. The hilarious antics of the cast during that number are delightful and cannot all be seen and absorbed in just one performance, but should be viewed watching from different angles.
By the end of the show, the crowd was on their feet and begging for more! I displayed a “Thank You” sign Tom had given me, at which several of the cast acknowledged with a nod and a smile. As a thrilled and happy audience left the arena, those of us with M&G passes, mostly forum members, lined up to be escorted back to a locker room off to the side. As we wait in line, Ray Fean, in baseball cap passes by the window, waves at us and gives a thumbs-up. Once inside, Dustin explains the rules and announces our two soloists will be…Lisa Kelly and Máiréad Nesbitt! Fantastic! I’ve never before had these two in combination! Almost too much glamour to put in one room---but I’m glad they risked it!
Those of us with cameras had made a pact to snap pictures of each other under the new policy of allowing candid shots during the M&G; and so we did! Ralph Nye took my photo with Máiréad, who reached out and pulled me in closer than I would have dared on my own! I got several of Tom with the ladies, as well as an unfortunately slightly-out-of-focus picture of him presenting them with an Irish flag decorated with buttons from the various Celtic Woman-related fan forums (seen below). A grand idea for a gift!
As my turn arrived, I got my Lullaby album cover signed, the program and another Fiddler Crossing sign autographed by Máiréad! I told her I hadn’t had her at a M&G for months! “That’s because he always gets me! It’s an old joke” Lisa said. “I’ve heard that about you two!” Máiréad laughed. I feel a bit of a tinge though, as I wonder if Lisa deep down thinks I could ever be disappointed at having her at a M&G. She doesn’t know, I thought, the extent to which I was traumatized by her absence from the US tour in 2008.
Old hands here remember well how we thought it likely she would rejoin the tour, perhaps as early as April with our news of an uncomplicated birth of Miss Ellie on March 5. It soon became clear she would not; and then the unthinkable thought: maybe she’ll never be back, due to health or just the desire to stay home with her children! Then finally came the elation when it was announced she would be on the 2009 Isle of Hope tour! She would find me on the front row at the Evansville IL dress rehearsal in February 2009. As far as I’m concerned, any extra M&Gs I may have with Lisa are but salve for the pain from her absence from the 2008 tour. And so it will always be.
As the M&G line dwindled, Lisa looks around for Mel—need a photo with Mel! Not in the room! I and one or two others leave the room to look for her in the halls—no sign of her! Maybe I shouldn’t tell Mel….oh, well!
Akron was a wonderful adventure for us—one I and indeed everyone there and most especially the forum-members in attendance, will never forget. Now, on to Youngstown!
Part II Youngstown, OH (coming shortly)
Note: those of you wishing to view the Youngstown review, kindly deposit a dollar in the floppy disc drive of your computer and press “Enter”….
II Youngstown April 2
From Akron, it was on to Youngstown for the April 2 show at the Corvelli Center. A new test for by new GPS which…isn’t working. Oh, I’m still inside the parking garage where it isn’t getting a signal. Whew! Once outside, I’m on my way to Youngstown which turns out to be not a bad drive. This night Tom will not be able to make it, but in his place I am joined by Mike (Mr. Peabody). We are scheduled to have dinner with Ralph and his sister Connie who also travelled up from Akron. Andi would be bring Mike (Cash), but logistics wouldn’t permit them to join us for dinner.
I can see the restaurant from my hotel, but when I get to it, GPS says I still have four hundred yards to go. Maybe another of the same chain up the street? Not. When GPS announces that “you have arrived at your destination” there is no restaurant there. A call to Mike confirms I have passed it up and it’s back to the one I see from my hotel. He, Ralph and Connie are already there. After a delicious meal, it’s time to head out for the show. In fact, its past time to head out for the show, as Mike (who is driving) and I encounter a large line of cars going into the Corvelli Center. We are still far back in traffic at 7:30 for the 8:00 p.m. show! Thankfully, get parked and arrive at the doors approx. 7:50.
Inside, venue security checks our bags. Seeing my signs, the officer says, “We’ve been told about those.” and it’s on through for me. Behind me, the officer digs in Mike’s bag and finds his camera. No cameras allowed! Mike protests that cameras are allowed at the M&G to be held after the show and to call Bubba to confirm it if they wanted. They insist no cameras per venue policy and a conversation ensues. The officers look at me. “Seize him!” I say pointing at Mike, which seemed like a prudent thing for a man with a camera in his pocket to say at the time…
Seriously, the officers thankfully were able to raise Bubba on the radio and confirmed cameras were allowed at the M&G. So in we went, to take our seats on front row center between Ralph and Connie and Annie and Mike (Cash). I got the impression that there were many forum members there that I didn’t get the opportunity to speak with since we came in so shortly before the start of the show. I regret I didn’t get the opportunity to speak with everyone.
As the house lights go down, the show begins with the appearance of the lovely voices and forms of the emerging candle maidens: first Chloe, then Lisa K, then Lisa L. Their beauty and lovely harmonies set the stage for another performance of Songs From the Heart! From the outset, it was a very lively and vocal crowd at the Corvelli Centre! Chloe welcomed the crowd, telling them this was Celtic Woman’s 22nd show in Ohio. An interesting coincidence to me, as it was also my 22nd Celtic Woman concert. Someone gave out a loud wolf whistle to Chloe, who laughed and said, “Thank you! I’ll put your check in the mail!” which drew a big laugh from the audience.
Our group across the front row was spotted immediately and acknowledged in turn by the girls as opportunity in the music permitted. I had told Lisa K and Mairead that we would be there at the previous night’s M&G in Akron. And there was Mr. Peabody, so there was no alarm amongst cast and crew as might have been created by his absence.
The block of us sitting together and a scattering of other forum members and joined by obviously dedicated fans up front permitted us to give frequent quick standing ovations, hopefully to be joined by more and more of the audience as the evening progressed. And they did, following the usual pattern of having the entire house with us by the end.
The idea, from my perspective, is to show the audience that the group has a large organized fan following, which hopefully many of them will too join. And too, musical director David Downes has produced such excellence in virtually every number and in the performers he has selected that there really is no song or arrangement that does not intrinsically merit a standing ovation, in my opinion. I suppose that if every audience member stood for every song, there would be no “special” ovations. Yet each of these songs primarily features a soloist whose performance on this song on this night deserves recognition for the effort and excellency they have produced for this crowd. If they make this effort each night for us, ought we not acknowledge it though the simple act of briefly standing? Off the soapbox and on with the review.
The cast is certainly energized this night! Maximum effort is seemingly given in every song. Ray’s platform seems to shake a bit too much—is it adequately secured? It looks like it would be quite a fall if it came crashing down. The microphone on Mairead’s fiddle as off as she begins a song. Will she continue? She does and it finally comes on after about four measures. Either an electrical short in a pickup or somebody is slow at the soundboard. Mike says Mairead does ten (10) spins during Coast of Galacia—looks like it might have been eleven to me. A feat which never ceases to amaze me nonetheless, nor should it to anybody who has tried simply standing after that many rotations!
Talking to other folks at intermission reveals many people who have seen them in the past in Youngstown and elsewhere. Everyone is thrilled with newest member Lisa Lambe, whom obviously is a perfect fit for the group and joins this group of heartthrobs, the reaction to which married men ought to watch out for a sharp elbow to the ribs from the wife if they over-react! We don’t have as many with “LL” signs to flash as last night, but still some to let Lil Lambe know we are thinking about her!
The second half brings the same spirited performance as last night in Akron, but the crowd reaction is rowdier here. Ushers descend on a man in a wheelchair on about the second row who has apparently gone overboard, in their view, in his exuberance. He was unrepentant after the show, raving about the girls and their performances. I predict he’ll be back next year!
The crowd seemed more emotional than usual during You Raise Me Up. I thought for a moment they would not be satisfied with just the one encore of Spanish Lady, but they eventually quieted down and left, all thrilled with what they had experienced.
Meet & greet time! Dustin escorted us back to the room in which it would be held. He looked at us and said, “There’s the back of the line for you all”. “You’re getting to know all our tricks!” I said.
Now the cameras could come out in earnest! Two radiantly beautiful ladies came out: Chloe and Lisa L! My photo of them coming in was blurred, to my dismay. Auto focus my eye! Yet if I’d brought by camcorder, I’d have had to fight with security like Mike did. Mike (Mr. Peabody), Ralph and I all vowed to take photos for and of each other. Below are some of the better ones I got or were emailed to me by Mike and Ralph.
Mike came bearing chocolate! No wonder he is so popular with the girls! Annie had a large artwork she had done of Lisa Lambe, which I do wish Lisa had opened there and shown us! Chloe recognized it, having already apparently gotten one of herself from Annie. She gave Annie a big hug! Ralph had blowups of the most lovely photos of each of the girls and of the group which he brings in a notebook to each M&G. That way, he is always prepared to have delightful photos to have signed regardless of who is at M&G. His sister Connie got a tremendous hug from Chloe!
Lisa L remarked that she hadn’t seen me since Atlanta, which now seemed long ago to her! I was surprised and delighted that she had remembered me! She told me she had been very pleased to have met Dave (Apollomoon), administrator of the Lisa Lambe Fan Forum and enjoyed the graphics and fan posts there. I gave her another of the forum buttons done there. She said she liked the artwork and the photo of her that had been selected by Destiny there. She asked which other I shows I would be attending this tour and I told her. She signs with a lovely left-handed signature (like me, except not the lovely part). She is thoroughly enchanting!
Then on to Miss Agnew, whom I had not had for M&G since the Cincinnati show last year! Only this time—we have cameras! I got photos (below are the best) and have wonderful photos taken of me with them by Ralph and Mike! With her signature on a photo for my daughter, I was finally able to get her one of Chloe, whom she adores! With Lisa Lambe’s autograph too, she now has one from them all.
I asked Chloe if she minded that fans were pressing for a guest appearance for her on Glee, either with Celtic Woman or individually. She said she didn’t mind at all and would love to make a guest appearance on the show. I think we as fans ought to see what we can do to help make this happen! I must admit to being slightly afraid, though, that the show might try to keep her on as a regular!
It’s never fun to leave a M&G, having to tear ourselves away while they are still seated there, but we must! As Mike took that last photo of me with Chloe, I was delighted that he was taking so long to snap and told her that I paid him extra to take longer! The check is in the mail, Mr. Peabody!
These two nights in Akron and Youngstown produced for me memories which will stay with me forever! And photos with all four soloists! Fantastic!
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